How do you define...Anamorphic? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

clarencewhorley · 06-12-2001, 02:38 AM

I would really like to know how DVD makers are defining "ANAMORPHIC" on the back of DVDs. As a projectionist, anamorphic to me refers to a film that was shot, and then must be projected through an anamorphic lens. These films are ALWAYS in the 2.35 aspect ratio. 1.85 films (in a theater) are NOT ANAMORPHIC.

The dictionary definition is: Pertaining to a distorting optical system.

This makes sense, but 1.85 lenses do not distort an image optically.

So why are so many 1.85 DVDs also labeled "ANAMORPHIC"?

***1138*** · 06-12-2001, 03:27 AM

Because the the optical image of the anamorphic 1.85 movie still has to be distorted to get a correct aspect ratio.

------------------
1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter
Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob.

clarencewhorley · 06-12-2001, 03:40 AM

What exactly do you mean by "optical image"?

Is the DVD player doing some kind of conversion? i.e. changing the image, like with video that is 16x9?

If so, why? All picture tubes are the same, unlike lenses in a theatre.

My resoution wouldn't be increased, because the number of lines on my TV are the same for every 1.85 movie. Right?

-------
"You want to take me to a kung fu movie?"
"Three kung fu movies."

Blade · 06-12-2001, 04:17 AM

This particular use of the word anamorphic has nothing to do with how the movie itself is filmed.

Rather, it refers to the use of the anamorphic process used to record the image on a DVD (in which the image is squeezed to fill up the frame it is recorded on and then stretched out and displayed on a TV).

On a non anamorphic DVD, the image is recorded in such a way that the black bars are taking up lines of resolution. On an anamorphic DVD, the space which would have held the black bars is used to add more lines of resolution to the DVD image resulting in better picture quality.

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-David
My DVDs and HT

[This message has been edited by Blade (edited 06-11-2001).]

clarencewhorley · 06-12-2001, 07:33 AM

Ok. After reading up on anamorphic in the "definitions" section, I understand what you're saying.

Now, I'm just wondering if someone (me) with a regular TV and DVD player would notice a difference between an anamorphic DVD and a non anamorphic DVD. Don't I get the same number of lines of resolution for a 1.85 film no matter what?

Wouldn't you have to have a TV that was capable of handling a compressed image, and a DVD player that would spit out a signal that way?

Do all DVD players have a 16x9 or anamorphic option?

I don't see how my lines of resolution could possibly change from one 1.85 film to another.

I'm buying a new TV in the next year, so your info is really appreciated.

-----------
"You want to take me to a kung fu movie?"
"Three kung fu movies."

[This message has been edited by clarencewhorley (edited 06-11-2001).]

***1138*** · 06-12-2001, 07:50 AM

Yes, all DVD players can output the anamorphic image. And yes, some 4x3 TV's can take advantage of that by squeezing their vertical scanning down while outputing an anamorphic image so that it's the correct ratio and still has all of the anamorphic hardware.

A 16x9 Tv on the other hand stretches an anamorphic image horizontally so that it's the correct ratio while still maintaining the higher resolution.

------------------
1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter
Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob.

Hendrik · 06-12-2001, 10:14 AM

...also: take a look at this site...
http://www.dvdweb.co.uk/information/anamorphic.htm

. . .

tomdkat · 06-12-2001, 06:31 PM

Some define "anamorphic" to mean "Cool, so when I watch this DVD on my 16:9 HDTV, I will get NO black bars!"......

I don't mean to slam anyone, but this is one of my pet peeves....

Peace....

06-12-2001, 02:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
clarencewhorley Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: La, CA, USA	How do you define...Anamorphic? I would really like to know how DVD makers are defining "ANAMORPHIC" on the back of DVDs. As a projectionist, anamorphic to me refers to a film that was shot, and then must be projected through an anamorphic lens. These films are ALWAYS in the 2.35 aspect ratio. 1.85 films (in a theater) are NOT ANAMORPHIC. The dictionary definition is: Pertaining to a distorting optical system. This makes sense, but 1.85 lenses do not distort an image optically. So why are so many 1.85 DVDs also labeled "ANAMORPHIC"?

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06-12-2001, 03:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	Because the the optical image of the anamorphic 1.85 movie still has to be distorted to get a correct aspect ratio. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob.

06-12-2001, 03:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
clarencewhorley Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: La, CA, USA	What exactly do you mean by "optical image"? Is the DVD player doing some kind of conversion? i.e. changing the image, like with video that is 16x9? If so, why? All picture tubes are the same, unlike lenses in a theatre. My resoution wouldn't be increased, because the number of lines on my TV are the same for every 1.85 movie. Right? ------- "You want to take me to a kung fu movie?" "Three kung fu movies."

06-12-2001, 04:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Blade Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oahu, Hawaii	This particular use of the word anamorphic has nothing to do with how the movie itself is filmed. Rather, it refers to the use of the anamorphic process used to record the image on a DVD (in which the image is squeezed to fill up the frame it is recorded on and then stretched out and displayed on a TV). On a non anamorphic DVD, the image is recorded in such a way that the black bars are taking up lines of resolution. On an anamorphic DVD, the space which would have held the black bars is used to add more lines of resolution to the DVD image resulting in better picture quality. ------------------ -David My DVDs and HT [This message has been edited by Blade (edited 06-11-2001).]

06-12-2001, 07:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
clarencewhorley Supporting Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: La, CA, USA	Ok. After reading up on anamorphic in the "definitions" section, I understand what you're saying. Now, I'm just wondering if someone (me) with a regular TV and DVD player would notice a difference between an anamorphic DVD and a non anamorphic DVD. Don't I get the same number of lines of resolution for a 1.85 film no matter what? Wouldn't you have to have a TV that was capable of handling a compressed image, and a DVD player that would spit out a signal that way? Do all DVD players have a 16x9 or anamorphic option? I don't see how my lines of resolution could possibly change from one 1.85 film to another. I'm buying a new TV in the next year, so your info is really appreciated. ----------- "You want to take me to a kung fu movie?" "Three kung fu movies." [This message has been edited by clarencewhorley (edited 06-11-2001).]

06-12-2001, 07:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
*1138* Producer/Admin Careful, or I'll ban myself... Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	Yes, all DVD players can output the anamorphic image. And yes, some 4x3 TV's can take advantage of that by squeezing their vertical scanning down while outputing an anamorphic image so that it's the correct ratio and still has all of the anamorphic hardware. A 16x9 Tv on the other hand stretches an anamorphic image horizontally so that it's the correct ratio while still maintaining the higher resolution. ------------------ 1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you'll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press'll think you're colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are a slob.

06-12-2001, 10:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hendrik Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Neuenhof, Switzerland	...also: take a look at this site... http://www.dvdweb.co.uk/information/anamorphic.htm . . .

06-12-2001, 06:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	Some define "anamorphic" to mean "Cool, so when I watch this DVD on my 16:9 HDTV, I will get NO black bars!"...... I don't mean to slam anyone, but this is one of my pet peeves.... Peace....