Pixel aspect ratio and animation

[tricky]

We are producing a composite aerial video where a building is superimposed onto a piece of heliciopter footage. The video footage is PAL widescreen, so 720x576 with a 1.422 pixel aspect ratio (which I have converted to be progressive as opposed to interlaced).

My question is: should I render with these dimensions or should I render at 1024x576 with a square pixel aspect ratio and 'squeeze' the footage in After Effects? Would this latter approach yield better quality results with respect to antialiasing etc?

[joconnell]

Very little difference since the final output will be at 720 x 576 - might be handier to view at 1024 since after effects pixel aspect correction in the comp window is a bit shoddy but you're sticking on extra render time. Render from vray 720 x 576 / 1.422.

[tricky]

Thanks. I wish the whole world worked in square, progressive pixels - it'd make life so much simpler

[Da_elf]

i like to work with all my pixels intact then let the pixel stretching squeezing sneezing whatever happen at the end

[mike_kennedy]

Can't wait till analogue dies......

[sv]

i like to work with all my pixels intact then let the pixel stretching squeezing sneezing whatever happen at the end

agreed
(although either 1024x576, 1.0 or 720x576, 1.422 will both work...)