Widescreen Basics 101
Dear Gary: In the Widescreen Review glossary, the definitions for “Letterbox” and “Widescreen” (not anamorphic widescreen) are similar: • Letterbox: The entire film frame is shown on screen, with black bars above and below to fill the video picture. • Widescreen: Displaying the original theatrical aspect ratio as it was intended to be exhibited with full horizontal width (but no added top or bottom image area not intended to be seen). My question is the following. If I buy a plasma TV in 16:9 format, is there anything out there that would allow me to view the movie as originally intended, but without the bars above and below the picture? Or is this a case of “I can have my cake” or “I can eat my cake,” but “I can’t have my cake and eat it too?”
Mike
Research Editor and Staff Writer Michael Coate Comments:
Yes, the terms “widescreen” and “letterbox” are often synonymous. Both terms imply an original aspect ratio presentation, with the presence of black mattes framing a rectangular “widescreen” image within a narrower-shaped TV screen. Based on my understanding of your question, the answer is simple: program material presented in aspect ratios between 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 (that is, 1.66:1, 1.75:1, 1.78:1, 1.85:1) will either perfectly fit the dimensions of the plasma 16:9 screen or will very nearly fit (sixteen divided by nine equals 1.78:1...). If your display has very little overscan, then very slight matting may be visible on the top and bottom of a 1.85:1 presentation or on the left and right sides for a 1.66:1 presentation. With an average amount of overscan, all of those ratios will neatly fit without any (or very nearly any) visible matting. All of the previous information given applies only to anamorphically enhanced DVDs. Fortunately, most newer widescreen format DVDs are anamorphic, though there are plenty of non-anamorphic discs out there, in which case a zoom mode would need to be utilized to have your screen filled (with a sacrifice in image resolution). If you are uncertain of a given disc’s aspect ratio, they are often (though not always depending on the company) represented on its jacket and are always mentioned in Widescreen Review’s LaserDisc, DVD, and D-VHS reviews. With “wider” aspect ratio material, such as 2.35:1, when displayed on a 16:9 screen, the image will include a very visible matte (roughly 30 percent; it would be a much higher 45 percent on a conventional 4:3 TV, so there is still a very noticeable benefit for using a 16:9 display). With narrower aspect ratio material, such as classic films in a 1.33:1 ratio or TV programs, the visible matting will appear on the left and right edges of your screen, rather than on the top and bottom. mattes. Hopefully though, the actual program content will persuade informed consumers to “put up with” some letterboxing with the tradeoff of a “proper” presentation. Many TVs have a host of zoom and image geometry adjustment functions that allow the user to zoom in on an image to eliminate the mattes, for instance. Hopefully, your desire to watch non-letterboxed programs won’t dissuade you from enjoying 1.33:1 or 2.35:1 films on your new 16:9 set, as well as material in other aspect ratios.
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