"black bars" for Widescreen DVDs on Widescreen TV!? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

TwistedByDesign · 10-01-2003, 02:37 AM

this may have been answered in other threads, but I skimmed through and didn't see, so my appologies if this was already asked, which it probably was.

But, my friend has a Widescreen TV and whenever he plays Widescreen DVDs it still shows some black bars on the top and the bottom.

why is that and how can it be fixed? thanks.

I 8 Piglet · 10-01-2003, 02:53 AM

the wide screen tv is 16:9 which is 178:1 and the most movies are either 180:1 or 235:1 (there are several other popular aspect ratios). So if you are watching a source that is larger than 178 you will have bars on the top and bottom (they get larger as the number gets bigger); and if it is smaller (ie 133:1) you will have black bars on the sides of the picture.

TwistedByDesign · 10-01-2003, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I 8 Piglet

the wide screen tv is 16:9 which is 178:1 and the most movies are either 180:1 or 235:1 (there are several other popular aspect ratios). So if you are watching a source that is larger than 178 you will have bars on the top and bottom (they get larger as the number gets bigger); and if it is smaller (ie 133:1) you will have black bars on the sides of the picture.

thank you very very much! for some reason I feel like a fool not realizing that.

I 8 Piglet · 10-01-2003, 01:18 PM

Dont feel like a fool, thats what this forum is here for. besides alot of people have the same question.

Enron · 10-01-2003, 01:51 PM

My widescreen tv actually has different viewing settings you can select that lessen the width of the letterbox bars by expanding the image at the top and bottom. The drawback is that some of the people all look tall and skinny but after watching a while its not so apparent. Check your tv manuel for this feature. My tv is a Toshiba 57hx83.

Jellodyne · 10-01-2003, 01:55 PM

Quote:

178:1 and the most movies are either 180:1 or 235:1

Damn, those are some WIDE movies! Of course he means 1.78:1, 1.80:1 (more likely 1.85:1!) and 2.35:1 -- these are ratios, 1.78:1 means for every 1.78 inches wide the picture is, it is 1 inch tall.

tomdkat · 10-01-2003, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwistedByDesign

this may have been answered in other threads, but I skimmed through and didn't see, so my appologies if this was already asked, which it probably was.

There probably hasn't been much discussion of this in "recent" history but if you use the search feature and search on "black bars" or "aspect ratio" in this forum, you can find previous discussion including links to several sites that discuss this topic in greater detail and with pictures to illustrate what's going on.

Peace...

Taxi · 10-01-2003, 08:05 PM

Here is one of the best threads for this, thanks to 1138.

Cap42086 · 10-04-2003, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxi

Here is one of the best threads for this, thanks to 1138.

I would say that it's the best thread on the topic. That's how I corrected the zoom problem with my older TV.

10-01-2003, 02:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
TwistedByDesign Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Montreal, Quebec	"black bars" for Widescreen DVDs on Widescreen TV!? this may have been answered in other threads, but I skimmed through and didn't see, so my appologies if this was already asked, which it probably was. But, my friend has a Widescreen TV and whenever he plays Widescreen DVDs it still shows some black bars on the top and the bottom. why is that and how can it be fixed? thanks. __________________ >My DVD Collection/Wishlist >My Top 20 Films

10-01-2003, 02:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
I 8 Piglet Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: missing NYC hardcore :(	the wide screen tv is 16:9 which is 178:1 and the most movies are either 180:1 or 235:1 (there are several other popular aspect ratios). So if you are watching a source that is larger than 178 you will have bars on the top and bottom (they get larger as the number gets bigger); and if it is smaller (ie 133:1) you will have black bars on the sides of the picture. __________________ "I have respect for Beer!" - John Nash "He was a wise man, who invented beer." - Plato My HT v2.1: with x1 screen shots New screen shots 2/4/04 \| My DVD Collection as of 12/15/04

10-01-2003, 01:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
I 8 Piglet Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: missing NYC hardcore :(	Dont feel like a fool, thats what this forum is here for. besides alot of people have the same question. __________________ "I have respect for Beer!" - John Nash "He was a wise man, who invented beer." - Plato My HT v2.1: with x1 screen shots New screen shots 2/4/04 \| My DVD Collection as of 12/15/04

10-01-2003, 01:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Enron Actor Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Washington, DC	My widescreen tv actually has different viewing settings you can select that lessen the width of the letterbox bars by expanding the image at the top and bottom. The drawback is that some of the people all look tall and skinny but after watching a while its not so apparent. Check your tv manuel for this feature. My tv is a Toshiba 57hx83. __________________ You're gonna need a bigger boat.

10-01-2003, 08:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Taxi Admin Emeritus Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Orygun	Here is one of the best threads for this, thanks to 1138. __________________ *Admin Emeritus* \| DDS#42 No, I am not back. Eschew obfuscation.

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