[Bf-funboard] Aspect ratio and resolution settings

[Julian Herzog]

Hi,

I just realized how, in comparison to other graphics software, Blender's
aspect ratio/camera resolution settings are quite, well, clumsy to use.
What I mean with that:

   - If you want to change your resolution from, say, 720p to 1080p, you
   have to change 2 values although you really only change one settings, the
   resolution. (And not everyone knows the difference is exactly 150%).
   - Changing the aspect ratio cannot be done where it is needed: While
   framing the shot, in the camera settings. Although the aspect ratio is
   often a creative decision that you might want to experiment with for your
   composition, you always have to change it in the Render-Tab, and even
   there, if you want to set it to 5:4 or 16:10 or 16:9 and you don't just
   happen to know the exact values by heart, you actually need to get out a
   calculator to get it exactly right. I'm studying aerospace engineering, but
   that's annoying even to me. :)

Now I don't just want to complain about it without proposing a solution, so
here are two that I would find way more intuitive and pleasant to use:

a) Basic level fix:

   - Give the Render resolution settings a small tickbox that says "keep
   aspect ratio" (and change the name of the settings below to "pixel aspect
   ratio", otherwise, that's very confusing). This then just always adjusts
   the number in the one field according to the number you change.

That would at least spare us having to use a calculator with non-standard
resolutions.

b) Full solution:

   - Aspect ratio settings in the camera settings, with two number
fields: *Aspect
   ratio: ____ x ____* , any two numbers can be entered. And a preset pull
   down above that offers the usual ones like 1x1, 5x4, 4x3, 3x2, 16x9, 16x10,
   1.85x1, 2.35x1 and so on. And a switch between landscape and portrait. With
   that, you have everything you might need to frame your shot.
   - The render settings only define resolution and pixel aspect ratio: You
   can choose how you want to enter your values: "long edge", "short edge",
   "fit width & height", "megapixels". Here, presets like 480, 720, 1080, 2k,
   4k, 8k and so one would make sense. If you change from portrait to
   landscape, for example, the benefit of a given "long edge" setting is that
   the resolution stays to same, you don't even have to worry about that. A
   text field might give feedback about what resolution actually results from
   the settings you just typed in.

I am aware of the fact that, in this case, there is one scenario where you
have to enter (and maybe think) more than before: If you just want to enter
an exact resolution that's not among the prefixes because you just happen
to want an image with a resolution of something like 538x723 pixels. Then,
you have to give the three values 538 x 723 (aspect ratio) and 723 (long
edge). However, I think that's a rare case. But I might be wrong there.

Please view this as a suggestion from me as a singular person, I might be
the only person thinking that this would be better. In that case, ignore it
and keep up with the awesome programming and development, it's a joy to
watch. Otherwise, you might give it a thought whether a), b) or a third or
fourth approach might improve the artist experience here.

Thanks for your time.
Julian