 |
 |
 |
 |
||
           |
WHy is 40% of DVD screen black?? Posted by Ken Simmons [IP: 208.8.211.31] on January 28, 1999 at 19:20:15: In Reply to: WHy is 40% of DVD screen black?? posted by Don U on January 28, 1999 at 18:41:09: : After just purchasing my panasonic A110 DVD player with a 27" tv, I find that a good percentage of the movies I rent are in the 16:9, or 2.35:1 wide screen format with the top and bottom of my screen black? On some of the DVD's there is a menu to pick the normal 4:3 ratio of a regugular"full" tv screen, or some you even have to turn them over. Is this normal with DVD's. Do people want a 40% black tv screen? When you have a 27" tv, it is not really entertaining to watch. On the movies I was able to watch in the normal 4:3 ratio of a regular program I enjoyed it very much, but this wide screen is terrible. AM I missing something here? No, you're not confused. What you're seeing is called "Letterbox" or "Widescreen" presentation. The "black bands" (i.e. 40% black) over and under the picture are PERFECTLY NORMAL. The other method of showing movies is called "Pan and Scan" (i.e. "Pan-n-Scam") where letterbox movies are "cropped" and "enlarged" so the whole screen is FILLED. Unfortunately, you LOSE A LOT OF INFORMATION from the sides of the film frame - not a lot with 1.85:1 screen ratios (i.e. "ET", "Star Wars"; quite a lot with 2.25:1 ratios (i.e. "2001", "Pillow Talk"). For someone who's RARELY (or NEVER) watched Letterbox/Widescreen movie presentations from Laserdisc or DVD, it's "unnerving" to say the least. However, if you're "open-minded", I'm sure you'll get used to the "black bars", especially if you happen to see the "Pan-n-scam" version of a movie RIGHT AFTER you watch the Letterbox/Widescreen version. Does this help a little? I suggest visiting "www.lvd.com" and perusing their FAQ page/article on "What is Letterboxing" (or similar). :) Ken
Follow Ups:
Return to the new SMR Forums Menu
|
|
|||
|
 © SMR Group 2001-2004 - http://www.smr-group.co.uk/ |
|
|||
