This useful feature is often overlooked, so I wanted to make sure you know that it exists, and mention a few of its useful features.
The Grid is displayed in either the Source Window or Record Window by using the Grid button found in the Fast Menu Tool Palette or on the Effect Editor Window. To map the Grid button to a custom location, it can be found in the Tools menu | Command Palette | FX tab. See the Mapping buttons and menu selections recipe in Chapter 2, Customizing Your Work Environment for more information if you are unfamiliar with mapping.
The Grid Setting is found in the Project Window | Settings Tab | Grid:
Coordinates | Scale Mode – allows you to display a grid that reflects a different aspect ratio than the one you are currently viewing. For example, let's say you're working with a Project Aspect Ratio of 16:9 but have to make sure to place titles and graphics, so that they will also be seen properly when the film or TV program is reformatted to show only the center 4:3 area of the image (also known as Center Cut or Center Extraction). In this example, you would select 4:3 Inside 16:9 Monitor. When you don't need this, be sure to set it back to Normal.
Coordinates | Fields Increments Entry Box – changing the value in the Fields box will increase or decrease the number of Tick Marks and the number of Points (a grid of dots). Tick Marks and Points are enabled n the grid's Display tab.
Display tab | Safe Title – the innermost of the two rectangles represents 80 percent of the image. For broadcast delivery, titles must not sit outside this area. They may be right on it, as is often the case when you place a speaker's name on screen (also known as Lower Thirds or Chyrons).
Display tab | Safe Action – this area is also called the Broadcast Safe Area. It's the outermost of the two rectangles and represents 90 percent of the image. While we can see the entire image, viewers at home are guaranteed to see only the image that's inside the Safe Action area. As an aside, when you're outputting for the Internet (a QuickTime movie, for example), the entire image (not just the Safe Action area) is output.
Display tab | Color – you can change the color of the Grid from the default setting of white to one of several other choices. I've settled on green as I find that it shows up well on both light and dark backgrounds.
Display tab | Axes – will display the X and Y axes. This is helpful for positioning video elements when creating effects.
Display tab | Tick Marks and Points (a grid of dots) – helpful for positioning video elements when creating effects. You can increase or decrease the number of Tick Marks and the number of Points by using the Coordinates | Fields Increments entry box. In addition, Roger Shufflebottom (one of the technical reviewers of this book) relates that when Points, Tick Marks, and Axes are displayed, then when you are in Effect Mode some effects (for example, Picture In Picture) will snap to them.
Duplicate Grid settings – you can have multiple Grid settings. See the the Settings overview recipe in Chapter 2, Customizing Your Work Environment for more information on duplicating, naming, restoring and activating settings.