When I was young , I loved going to the movies . I loved widescreen epics in Cinerama , Cinemascope , Super Panavision . VistaVision , etc . watch out these movies on TV , however , was irritating because I could secern I was not learn the entire image .
When DVD ’s appeared in 1997 , there was fairly of a respite . A plenty of DVD ’s had both “ full silver screen ” and “ letterbox ” version . Now I could revel these films at dwelling the mode the managing director intended them to be experience .
You ’d think that transition from the onetime 4×3 TV ’s to new , widescreen 16×9 high definition TV ’s would put the kibosh on this pattern , but it ’s only introducing new optical aberration .
days ago , I insist that the technician that install my HD cablegram box show me some HD capacity . All he did was put on a received definition channel and press the “ wide of the mark ” button . I had to convince him that was not HD . After a while , we figured out that the HD channels started at television channel 701 . ( There are describe cases of consumer watch out received definition program on their high definition television ’s because they did n’t have it off that the high definition TV channel were simulcast on a different channel . )
Broadcasters are still transmitting 4×3 content at 16×9 , so everyone looks fat ! consumer are being duped into call back that a standard definition image stretched to 16×9 is high definition . There are many public places such as bars , restaurants , aerodrome , and other venues with widescreen boob tube ’s that either do n’t have in high spirits definition service or they do n’t know the difference , and expose standard definition contentedness stretch out . Widescreen pic that should be letterboxed , even on 16×9 TV ’s , are still being cropped “ pan - and - scan ” style to whatever aspect proportion is being broadcast .
I ’ve long fantasized about giving out citations to networks , broadcasters , and proprietor of secret venues who go against the vista ratio of the original material , so I created my web log to cite those who continue with this frightful practice , and admit those who get it correct ! [ Aspect Ratio Police ]
Tony Hurd has worked for Industrial Light & Magic , The Orphanage , Colossal Pictures , WGBH / Boston and KQED / San Francisco doing both limited FX and production body of work . He roll in the hay his hooey . Tony Hurd now ferment at Polygon Entertainment .
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
