Quote:
Originally Posted by demented
TCM is only 4:3. Don't know about FX as I never watch it. Do you mean it is double letterbox or 4:3 or what?
If it is in HDMI then you can change it. There are 720, 720 wide, 1080, 1080 wide etc. You'll notice the diff in the menus.
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Hi demented
No changing the HDM1 does not work it only changes the size of the guide. its the formats on the TV that i could change before i plugged in the V+ in. I could change it to either 4.3,14.9,16.9,subtitle zoom,super zoom or wide screen now the V+ box is in it only has wide screen
---------- Post added at 22:51 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------
hi
I've just found the answer after a week of looking.
I'm posting the reply so you can understand what i was trying to say. It's interesting reading.
"QUOTE"
This question comes up often. There is no definitive answer regarding stretch modes, however, most widescreen TVs have a variety of different stretch modes. Four of the basic modes are described below. Different sets will be slightly different and have slightly different names for these modes, but you'll get the idea from this discussion.
The following explanations are used typically on standard definition TV signals or DVD signals. HD signals may, or may not be "stretchable" depending on your TV.
1. Normal - no "stretching" of an image in either direction. The signal that came in, is what's shown on the TV. If the signal is 4:3, you will have "bars" on the sides of the image. If the signal is High Definition (16:9), the image will completely fill the screen and "overrule" any stretch mode in place. (note DVDs are not high def and are explained below). Note also that any 4:3 High Definition images will still be 4:3 and the bars on the side will now be black and are also part of the HD image, which most TVs cannot stretch.
2. Horizontal Stretch (often called Full) - this mode stretches the image in a horizontal direction only. This is intended to stretch an "Enhanced for Widescreen" or "anamorphic" DVD so that the image is what was originally intended. If the original aspect ratio was 1.85:1, this will perfectly fill your screen. If it was 2:35:1, there will still be "black bars" on the top and bottom of the image, but this is normal. If you apply this mode to "standard" (4:3) programming, everyone will look "fat", however the amount of stretch will exactly fill the widescreen TV. (it takes a 4:3 image and stretches it to 16:9 or a 33% stretch)
3. Vertical and horizontal stretch (often called Fill or zoom) - this mode stretches the image in both directions (zooms in). This is intended for DVDs that have not been "enhanced". If the original aspect ratio was 1.85:1, this will perfectly fill your screen. If it was 2:35:1, there will still be "black bars" on the top and bottom of the image, but this is normal. This mode can also be used for "widescreen" images shown in standard definition on a 4:3 format. If you use this stretch mode on such a programme, the "widescreen image" will fill the screen, if the original aspect ratio was 1.85:1. If the aspect ratio was 2.35:1, there will still be bars at the top and bottom as decribed before and this is normal. Using this mode on "standard widescreen" images, will exacerbate any poor image quality, so a poor print will look really bad in this mode. You have to have a really good original "standard widescreen" image to use this mode.
4. Smooth-wide stretch - this mode stretches the edges of a 4:3 image more than the centre of the image. It also does a small amount of vertical stretch, but usually not enough to remove "tickers" or tops of heads. This mode is intended to be used on 4:3 images to prevent "burn in" from the "bars" that would normally be left on the sides of the image. This does not make the people look as "fat" as the horizontal stretch, but it can sometimes be a little disconcerting because the edges of the picture may make one side of an person "fatter" than the other side. (There is less "distortion" in the centre of the image, than at the edges) Once you get used to this image for a week or so, you don't even notice and it's not a bad way to watch 4:3 images on a widescreen TV. When I have people over, they often don't even notice the "irregularities" of this image and I've stopped noticing too, until something at the edge of the screen draws my attention to it.
5. Some TV's have even more options and there are scalers that will provide you with infinite choices, however, this should be good enough to explain the basics.
6. Some people do not like the black bars at the top of a 2.35:1 DVD. You can make these "disappear" by using the DVD player's zoom mode, however, you will lose some of the sides of the movie.
7. 4:3 HDTVs typically do not have much flexibility with programming. A standard definition 4:3 image, is perfectly shown on a 4:3 TV obviously, however, 16:9 images and especially 16:9 High Definition images, may not be able to be manupulated, so you may end up with a "window in a window" or other "strange" effects. Same goes for "upconverted" 4:3 High Definition images. Read your owners manual to see what, if any, flexibility you may have to deal with these images.
The following question also comes up a lot:
Quote:
I would appreciate any input on which widescreen HDTVs which are best at "stretching" a 4:3 picture onto the widescreen.
The "best" stretch mode for you is going to depend on you, and your brain, let me explain.
1. Your eyes are only the connection to the outside world. It is your brain that does the "seeing". If your eyes did the actual "seeing" everything would be upside down.
2. As anyone who has worn glasses knows, it takes a while to get used to the chromatic abberation and barrel distortion that glasses inflict on us.
What am I leading to?
1. The brain quickly learns to live with these "distortions" and they "fade into the background."
2 No one can tell you what is "best", only you can decide.
3. All of the stretch modes have some form of "distortion" or "cut-off", much like glasses (fat people, people's heads cut off, fat people at the sides of the screen, etc.)
4. After looking at a stretch image for a few days, your brain will "get used to" the image and you won't even notice.
So, go out and sample a few, remembering that after a few days viewing, you'll likely forget you're even looking at a stretch mode. I know that I have.
Some will say, why stretch at all? (buy 4:3, buy 2 TVs, etc). Well there are always compromises, some people wear glasses, some wear contacts, etc. During this transition when both 4:3 and 16:9 images are going to be existing at the same time, there are compromises that will have to be made.
(This FAQ was first written when most TVs were Plasmas or CRTs and people were concerned with burn in. Now that many HDTVs don't have burn in issues (LCD, DLP, LCoS) one doesn't need to stretch 4:3 images unless desired.)
Each manufacturer has his own name for these stretch modes, but the descriptions should allow you to understand which is which. Here are some "translations"
New Hitachis
NORMAL = 4:3 Standard
FULL = 16:9 Standard
FILL = 4:3 Zoom1
SMOOTHWIDE = 4:3 Expanded
Also, 4:3 Zoom 2 - Big Zoom.
Also 16:9 Zoom - Zoom (perhaps for 2.35:1 DVDs to eliminate black bars above and below, but lose sides???)
Toshiba (Note that the operating manuals for many Toshibas are incorrect - follow the following instead of what they say)
NORMAL = Natural
FULL = FULL
FILL = Theater Wide 2
SMOOTHWIDE = Theater Wide 1 and/or Theater Wide 3 may be used for watching 4:3 images. Your choice depending on preference, since these are not identical to the Hitachi "Smoothwide".
Zenith IQB64W10W: Provided by Zarlor
NORMAL = 4:3
FULL = 16:9
FILL = ZOOM
Only those 3 are available.
Sony
NORMAL = Standard
FULL = Stretch/Full
FILL = Zoom
SMOOTHWIDE = Wide-Zoom
Pannasonic
NORMAL = ???
FULL = Full
FILL = Zoom
SMOOTHWIDE = Just
RCA
NORMAL = Normal
FULL = Full
FILL = Fill
Mits
Standard - HDTV automatically uses this.
Full = Expand
Fill = Zoom
Smoothwide = Stretched - Non-linear stretch
Normal = Narrow
Sharp/Magnavox
Normal = Side Bar
Full = Stretch - Horizontal only stretch
Fill = Zoom - Horizontal and Vertical Stretch
Smoothwide = S. Stretch - Hybrid
If you're still not getting the right picture from your DVD player, please note the following:
DVD players have a menu for selecting "widescreen or 16:9" TVs. This should be set to 16:9 or widescreen when watching DVDs on a widescreen TV, or on a 4:3 TV with "vertical compression". Some DVD players have even more settings available. Make sure that you choose the right one depending on your TV and DVD player (read the manuals).
Some TVs have "auto stretch" capability, but it may only work with either 480i or 480P inputs depending on the TV - read the manual. Also, it doesn't properly stretch non-anamorphic DVDs, so you may need to turn it off, or override it.
Note regarding stretching of HD inputs.
Many HDTVs cannot properly stretch HD (1080i, 720P) signals (A few models can stretch 1080i, 720P). Therefore some HDTVs cannot eliminate the black bars on 4:3 upconverted signals, or those that come from some STBs like the SA3100HD which convert all component video output to 1080i. You need to watch an SD channel and connect the STB via composite or S-video connections to another input to be able to properly stretch the SD channels. Some STBs have this capability built in.
This same issue comes up on DVI/HDMI connections - on several STBs and DVD players that output 720P or 1080i. You will need to "workaround" by using a different connection - component video or less, or sometimes the setup of the DVD player or STB allows you to output the proper formats.