Graphic File Import Specifications
The following table contains graphic file import specifications. The table uses the following terms:
  Full-screen image size: These numbers describe the recommended width and height, in pixels, to create a source image that is displayed full-screen after import. Using these dimensions helps minimize distortion after conversion to the Avid application native resolution of 720 x 480 non-square pixels for NTSC or 720 x 576 for PAL. An image with smaller dimensions takes up less of the screen or is distorted, while an image that exceeds these dimensions might appear distorted. Avid recommends an image resolution of 72 pixels per inch.
  Bit depth: These numbers refer to color-depth resolution of the image based on the number of bits per pixel. For example, 2-bit images are displayed in black and white; 8-bit images are displayed in 256 colors; 16-bit images are displayed in thousands of colors; 24-bit images are displayed in millions of colors; and 32-bit images are displayed in millions of colors with an alpha channel.
  Alpha channel: This column states whether or not alpha channel import is supported. An alpha channel determines regions of transparency in the picture when it is keyed over a background.
  NA: This notation means Not Applicable.
Graphic File Import Specificationsá
Format
Default File Name Exten-
sion
Recommended
Full-Screen
Size (Pixels)
Bit Depth
Support
Alpha ChannelSupport
Notes
Alias
.als
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit color,
8-bit grayscale
No

BMP
.bmp
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
1-, 4-, 8-, and 24-bit
No
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
Four-bit BMP files saved with run-length-encoded compression are not supported.
Photoshop does not support four-channel BMP files.
Chyron
.chr
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
32-bit
Yes

Cineon
.cin
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
10-bit (logarithmic)
NA
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
Framestore
.fs
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit
No
Pixel aspect information is saved with image data.
When importing files generated from
Video Toaster, select the option Force to Fit Screen.
IFF
.iff
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
1-bit through 24-bit color;
1-bit through 8-bit grayscale;
64-color EHB;
4096-color HAM;
262,144-color HAM8;
SHAM;
A-HAM;
A-RES
1-bit alpha only
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
Pixel aspect information is saved with image data.
JPEG
.jpg
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit color,
8-bit grayscale
No

OMFI
.omf
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL


See OMFI Files.
PCX
.pcx
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
Color-mapped and 24-bit color
NA
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
PCX files with 1-bit color depth or odd-numbered pixel widths are not supported.
Photo CD (Macintosh only)

720 x 486 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL

NA
If you are importing Photo CD files, you must install QuickTime software and a compatible QuickTime Photo CD driver.
Most Photo CD files are high resolution; if the photo has a portrait orientation, the image is automatically rotated upon import. Use a paint or image processing program to crop or resize the image before importing.
Photoshop
.psd
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
Grayscale, indexed color, RGB, and duotone variations
No
Duotone files are loaded as grayscale.
Multichannel (more than four channels) files are not supported.
PICT
.pic
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, and 32-bit
Yes
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
If no dpi is specified, 72ádpi is used.
Pixar
.pxr
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit, 36-bit
Yes

PNG
.png
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
1-bit through 32-bit
Yes

QRT
.dbw
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit
No

Rendition
.6rn
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
32-bit
Yes

SGI
.rgb
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
8-bit or 16-bit
grayscale;
8-bit grayscale plus 8-bit alpha channel;
24- and 48-bit color;
24-bit color plus 8-bit alpha channel;
64-bit (16 bits per component)
Yes

Softimage
.pic
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit plus
8-bit alpha
Yes
Pixel aspect information is saved with the image.
  (Windows only) Double-clicking a
Softimage file starts the application associated with PICT files because they use the same extension. Avoid double-clicking Softimage files to view them.
Sun Raster
.sun
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
1-, 8-, or 24-bit
No

TARGA
.tga
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
8-, 15-, 16-, or
24-bit; 32-bit
Yes

TIFF
.tif
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
8-bit color-mapped;
8-bit or 16-bit grayscale;
24- and 48-bit color;
24-bit color plus
8-bit alpha;
36-bit color plus
12-bit alpha;
42-bit color plus
14-bit alpha;
48-bit color plus
16-bit alpha
Yes
Dots-per-inch (dpi) information is preserved.
The following types of files are not supported:
  Multichannel (greater than four channels) files
  Groupá3-compressed (fax) files
  CMYK files with extra channels
  JPEG-compressed files.
Four-channel files from Avid Matador are imported as three-channel files.
Wavefront
.rla
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
32-bit and 64-bit
Yes

XWindows
.xwd
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 16, 24-, and 32-bit
No

YUV
.yuv
720 x 480 NTSC
720 x 576 PAL
24-bit
No
Pixel aspect information (based on the video format) is saved with image data.
When importing, select the option Force to Fit Screen.

Some features described in Help are available only in Avid Xpress Pro or Avid Xpress DV. For more information about Avid Free DV go to
www.avid.com.