I was just curious. Is it posible to render animations for video? if so what resolution should it be? The TV screens use pixels too right? I've never really looked into making anything for video, but that post about sending demo reels to different places seemed to show they all want VHS or something

I could be wrong, but I think NTSC Television uses 400 lines that are 460 pixels across. These are interlaced so the pixels aren't exacly in a grid pattern like your monitor. I also don't believe the pixels are actually square. Now it's better to render your work at a higher resolution: I believe 640x480 is the magic number here. Like a photocopier, when you reduce the size of the image, you'll get a sharper image. Let me see if I can find a link to verify this or set me straight.

He's right, 640x480 is the magic number. But more importantly, you need the hardware to output to your VCR. I have a Canopus Pure 3D accellerator card that I picked up for $70, that sped up my preview renderings, and also can output to VHS or SVHS format.(SVHS is the format you would have to record it in if you wanted to send it to a T.V. station.)

RayDream Studio can do field rendering. -Jeff H.

Whoa. . . thanks guys. . . I've got Ray Dream Studio, so cool!

It also depends on the hardware that you're using to output to videotape. Most have their own prefered ratios. My Miro DC20 likes 640x480 for NTSC but my Perception board uses a more standard 720x480. If you wanted to shoot in a widescreen format, pick your ratio and just make sure that the width stays at 480. Chris

There is a great product called TV-Ator Pro, around $70 that will allow you to connect your PC or Mac to any TV, then record the screen to a VCR. It's a lot different than just going straight to VHS, but it's a good cost-alternative solution, expecially if you're on a Mac, where video cards and AV cards are still not as cheap as on a PC... It looks great too. And again, 640x480 works like a charm...