SHOOTING DIGITALSHOOTING DIGITALThese are my test assumptions to obtain maximum text readability:
I created a 640x480 pixel at 72 dpi black image in Photoshop and used Helvetica Medium at a variety of point sizes to create the test text.
I saved the image as a TIFF file and also as a JPEG file (Photoshop level 12 - highest quality).
I brough each still image into iMovie 3.0.2.
The "Ken Burns effect" was set to 1x for both start and finish and I set the duration at 15 seconds (you may want to adjust this depending on the amount of text to be read).
I saved the movie using the following steps:
File > Export > To QuickTimeI brought the movie into iDVD 3 and burned a DVD-RW to evaluate the text sizes.
On both my computer screen and my TV set I would recommend using no smaller than Helvetica Medium 18 point. I could read smaller sizes - but with a little difficulty. Stick with 18 pt!
The JPEG file was a little easier to read (the compression process gets rid of some of the high frequency information and that probably helps the MPEG2 compressor in iDVD).
Remember that although a computer screen will show the entire frame, a TV screen cuts off the edges so stay in the TV Safe area.
Shooting-Digital.com is the companion site for a new book Shooting Digital: Pro Tips for Taking Great Pictures with Your Digital Camera written by Mikkel Aaland. I was the Technical Editor of the book. Shooting-Digital.com is also an educational site devoted to all aspects of digital imaging. Topics include shooting, acquiring, using and sharing digital images. Check it out!
Copyright 2003 by Frederick L. Shippey, Electronic Imaging Consulting