Screen Format Question

[AmyR7]

Hi Everyone,
Happy New Years to everyone.
A question about some DVD's seem to be not playing properly and we are trying to figure out why it shows up with black strips at the top and bottom of the screen.
We have 3 different settings under Disc Options and Screen Format section. When you click on each option, it lists a bit about each option.
1. 4x3 Letterbox
To view movies in the traditional TV aspect ratio, press OK.
2. 4x3 Standard
For movies filling the entire TV screen, press OK.
3. 16x9 Widescreen
If your DVD player is connected to a widescreen TV, press OK.

Which we have a widescreen TV. So, we have it set on the 3rd one.
We don't even understand anything though about the Aspect Ratio. But did try to see if changing to any of the other settings would help, and still seems to show up with the black strips.

Thanks,
Amy

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Can you post a picture?

[AmyR7]

Here is a picture I found that shows exactly what I'm talking about.

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[Allan]

The movie is letterboxed to fit on your screen in the correct aspect ratio. The way you see it is the way it was intended to be seen.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

We don't even understand anything though about the Aspect Ratio

Below I have attached a snapshot from a 4:3 video and stretched it to 16:9.

If you were to get rid of those black bars, the video would be stretched vertically the same way the attached image has been stretched vertically.

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[AmyR7]

Yes, but we don't have it marked on the Letterboxed option.
The same movie we have on vcr tape and it doesn't show up with the black strips. But for some reason the DVD does, and not all our DVD's do this which is what we don't understand. When we read the back of the DVD's, they all say the same wording, so that's what we can't figure out.
Also, it says for that 3rd option if you have a widescreen tv, to do that one. Which yes, we have a Widescreen tv, and in the diagrams for all 3 of them, that 3rd option it doesn't seem to have the black strips in the diagrams they show, but then when you watch the movie, it shows up with the black strips.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Then the movie is filmed in a ratio other than 16:9.

What movie is it?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If you were to get rid of the letterbox, the movie would look like this.

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[AmyR7]

If you were to get rid of the letterbox, the movie would look like this.

This still doesn't make much sense. If the movie was filmed that way, why when we play it on a vcr tape, it doesn't have the strips. But if you play the DVD, it does show up with the strips?
I'll Be Home For Christmas is the movie.
The other thing we don't understand is when we compare the boxes of the DVD to others, the wording of the way it's filmed is the same as others that do not have the strips. So, is very confusing as to all this ratio thing. It says the same exact things. So, why it happens on some and not all is very puzzling. Makes us wonder if the DVD is a bad copy we got.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Can you get a picture of the VCR version of the movie.

[rthompson80819]

Here is a good article on screen size.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/formats.htm

Everybody talks about 4:3 or 16:9 but there are actually several more.

[AmyR7]

Went to that site.
Still really doesn't make much sense when like I said, when we watch the same movie on VCR tapes, it doesn't show the strips, and also same when it's airing just on tv, it doesn't show up with the strips either.
Also, still doesn't make sense when we compare the boxes of the DVD's to all the ones we have. The wording of how it was filmed, is all the same.
Here is a picture we found so you can see what we are talking about, or you can just look at the pictures you posted earlier, they don't seem to have black strips on the top and bottom of screen.



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[rthompson80819]

If you have a wide screen TV it is almost definitely a HD digital TV and is designed to adjust to what ever input it receives.

VCR's are analog devices with relatively low resolutions compared to digital and the TV is adjusting to the input and fills the screen to offer the best picture it can.

With a DVD, it's digital and the TV is reacting to it's input in the resolution it was programmed for on the DVD.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

The screenshot you uploaded without the 'black strips' is in 4:3 aspect ratio, standard VCR ratio.
Don't you notice how the video is stretched vertically compared with the letterboxed one?

[AmyR7]

If you have a wide screen TV it is almost definitely a HD digital TV and is designed to adjust to what ever input it receives.

VCR's are analog devices with relatively low resolutions compared to digital and the TV is adjusting to the input and fills the screen to offer the best picture it can.

With a DVD, it's digital and the TV is reacting to it's input in the resolution it was programmed for on the DVD.

It's the same player though- a DVD VCR Combo unit.

The screenshot you uploaded without the 'black strips' is in 4:3 aspect ratio, standard VCR ratio.
Don't you notice how the video is stretched vertically compared with the letterboxed one?

Yes, but why when we have it set to the other settings, it still seems to play with the black strips.
In my 1st post where I listed the 3 options, the 3rd one is what we have it marked on which is not the letterbox one, and in the diagrams it shows for all 3, the option we have it marked on it does not show the black strips in the diagram, but then it still plays it with the black strips.
Then like we said, when we try to compare the boxes of all the DVD's we have, the wording is the same, so still don't understand why some of them are showing up without the black strips. It also seems to like never happen on tv shows we have on DVD's. On Little House on the Prairie DVD's just got all the seasons. Same with Alf I have all them. The movies I just got for Christmas- Jingle All The Way and I'll Be Home For Christmas, the Jingle All The Way one does not have the black strips, but I'll Be Home For Christmas does seem to have them.
Here is what it says on the boxes for all my movies on DVD's- widescreen 1.85:1
and not all of them seem to have the black strips.
On the Little House here is what the box says Ratio 1:33

[kpac]

Most DVDs use 16:9, because it is a "newer" ratio. That's why they look different.

[BC_Programmer]

1.33 aspect is 4:3.

1.85 is not a ratio I've heard of.

Also, the fact that the DVD abd VCR components are in the same unit doesn't suddenly make them both digital or both analog; just as how having a CD-player in a boom box doesn't suddenly digitize the cassette player.

[rthompson80819]

From the projectorcentral site linked above..

Keep in mind that when it comes to DVD movies there is a formatting issue to consider. Many movies are wider than 16:9. For example, Seabiscuit, The Lord of the Rings, Dances with Wolves, Tombstone, The Fifth Element, U-571, American Beauty, and Star Wars/Phantom Menace  (to name a few) are all 2.35:1, not 1.78:1. When you display these movies on a 16:9 screen you will have black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, each bar amounting to about 12% of the picture height. The bars are not as large as they would be on a 4:3 screen, but they are there nevertheless.

[AmyR7]

1.33 aspect is 4:3.

1.85 is not a ratio I've heard of.

So, looks like the ones without black strips are filmed in 4:3 format.
But still seems weird that even all the ones that say 1.85, not all of them show up with the black strips. So, still makes no since. Like we got the wrong thing or something. Is still a bit confusing though when looking at the diagrams the unit gives for the 3 options we can mark, and on the one we marked is not suppose to be black strips, but still plays some of them with the strips.
The other thing we were wondering, you mentioned about the input thing it receives its reacting to the way it was programmed. So, I guess is that why when we watch the movies on TV and it shows up without the black strips, the cable company I guess programmed it to show up without the black strips? We receive ours through Coaxial Cable is the way ours is setup, which is actually the other problem we keep running into is now finding a DVD recorder with the correct things to hook it up.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If the display 'size' of the TV show fits your screen, there won't be any black boxes.
 

So, looks like the ones without black strips are filmed in 4:3 format.

The movie you showed us is not filmed in 4:3. It is filmed with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Your VCR is displaying it as 4:3, which is incorrect, thus looks like it's stretched.

[AmyR7]

If the display 'size' of the TV show fits your screen, there won't be any black boxes.
 
The movie you showed us is not filmed in 4:3. It is filmed with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Your VCR is displaying it as 4:3, which is incorrect, thus looks like it's stretched.

Ok, even more confused now. Thought you all said that 1.33 aspect is 4:3? That is what it says on the box for some of the DVD's.

The pictures I uploaded is one I found so that you all could see an example of what the black strips look like.
Whenever things play with the black strips, that is what they look like.

[BC_Programmer]

Ok, even more confused now. Thought you all said that 1.33 aspect is 4:3? That is what it says on the box for some of the DVD's.

And if your screen is widescreen then it's not 4:3 so you get the black bars unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

[AmyR7]

And if your screen is widescreen then it's not 4:3 so you get the black bars unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

This is making us even more confused. Going back and forth. Didn't you all say 1.33 is 4:3?
On the DVD's that say 1.33 we are not getting the black strips.
On some of the DVD's that say 1.85 on some of them we get the black strips, but not all of them.

[BC_Programmer]

unless the image is stretched or shrunk.

When you DON'T get the black bars, on a widescreen TV, when your playing something with the 4:3 aspect, then the image is stretched.

without stretching, you get black bars, OR: possibly, sometimes it will "enlarge" the video, so that the edges are covered. but this means that the side that didn't have bars before will now have parts of the video "outside" of it; quite the opposite of the black bars, since your not missing parts of the video. the reason this is used is the preserve the aspect ratio; otherwise, what should be a circle will appear as an oval.

the modes you select on the TV select the stretching mode. but really, it's not that important; with 4:3 on a widescreen television, you will get black bars on the left and right; when playing a widescreen movie on a standard 4:3 television, you have black bars on the top and bottom.

personally- I just live with the black bars. If I don't, I either stretch everything so it's all screwy (everything is stretched vertically) or it get's stretched so parts of the video are no longer visible. neither of which I find desirable.

[AmyR7]

After all this, sounds like it's being stretched then since we have a widescreen TV.
We don't have any way to select any modes to stretch or shrink an image.
Just those 3 options for playing the discs that I put in the 1st post that shows a diagram with each, and it does not show black strips for the 3rd option, for widescreen tv's.
These are the 3 options we have:
1. 4x3 Letterbox
To view movies in the traditional TV aspect ratio, press OK.
2. 4x3 Standard
For movies filling the entire TV screen, press OK.
3. 16x9 Widescreen
If your DVD player is connected to a widescreen TV, press OK.

The diagram it shows for option 3, does not have black strips with it. So, that is what we are not understanding, why it still plays some of them with the black strips even though we don't have it selected to play with the black strips still doesn't make any sense.

[cruisin702]

Let me try.....
Here is a link that does a pretty good job of explaining the different ratios used in filming.
Now 1.85:1 is the ratio you are seeing the black lines with, correct? 16:9 which your widescreen tv is translates to 1.78:1 , not 1.85:1 so you get the black lines. I assure you that your TV is showing you the best possible picture.

[AmyR7]

Let me try.....
Here is a link that does a pretty good job of explaining the different ratios used in filming.
Now 1.85:1 is the ratio you are seeing the black lines with, correct? 16:9 which your widescreen tv is translates to 1.78:1 , not 1.85:1 so you get the black lines. I assure you that your TV is showing you the best possible picture.

The only thing is that some of the DVD's that are 1.85:1 are not showing up with black strips. Why don't all of them that are 1.85:1 show up with black strips? We know that the DVD's are 1.85:1 because that is what it says on the box/case of the DVD.
3 DVD's- Jingle All The Way, Home Alone and I'll Be Home For Christmas. On the boxes  for each it says 1.85:1 Widescreen. And The I'll Be Home For Christmas one keeps showing up with black strips. The others are not showing up with black strips.
So, trying to figure out, does this mean the DVD is defective, so we got a bad copy.

[cruisin702]

Do the DVD's which don't show the black lines also say 16:9 or enhanced for 16:9 display?

[patio]

Watch the Christmas DVD's on the old 19" TV...it'll add to the nostalgia...

[cruisin702]

Watch the Christmas DVD's on the old 19" TV...it'll add to the nostalgia...

I'll take mine with me the next time I go to Grandma's house!

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

After all this, sounds like it's being stretched then since we have a widescreen TV.

It's being stretched because you have a VCR. The widescreen TV WITH the black bars is showing the movie in the correct aspect ratio.

Do you seriously not understand or are you trolling?

[AmyR7]

Do the DVD's which don't show the black lines also say 16:9 or enhanced for 16:9 display?

No

It's being stretched because you have a VCR. The widescreen TV WITH the black bars is showing the movie in the correct aspect ratio.

Do you seriously not understand or are you trolling?

But I'm not playing the movie on the VCR. I'm playing the DVD, and it doesn't happen on all of the DVD's.
My mom doesn't understand this either. This also happens with some of the movies we rent too. Been puzzling us ever sense all this started happening.
The very first time it ever happened, we called Blockbuster and this lady who answered the phone didn't know much, and said to look at the manual for your unit should tell how to do the settings. Which yes, we have looked and not finding anything helpful.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

It doesn't happen with all movies because not all movies are filmed with a 16:9 ratio.

The black bars are CORRECT. They are normal. They are how the movie is supposed to be played.

Let it be.

[AmyR7]

It doesn't happen with all movies because not all movies are filmed with a 16:9 ratio.

The black bars are CORRECT. They are normal. They are how the movie is supposed to be played.

Let it be.

Yes, we understand that not all movies are filmed that way. That isn't the problem.
Why when we look and compare what it says the format of them should be, it is all the same wording, 1.85:1 widescreen is what it says on the box.
So, it looks like something is wrong with the DVD, that we got a bad copy and need to exchange it for one that works.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

How is the movie broken? Is it not playing?

[cruisin702]

All I can suggest is in the future when buying dvd's look for 1.78:1 or 16:9 . Or, if your TV has black trim, turn the lights off and watch the movie the way it's meant to be watched and you want even see the black lines. If your actually noticing the black lines while watching a movie, you should get a different movie because the one you are watching is not interesting you at all.

[AmyR7]

How is the movie broken? Is it not playing?

not playing right. chops off parts of their head with the black strips.
actually, I watch tv all the time with lights off due to my health, I have alot of headaches all the time and light hurts my eyes.

[cruisin702]

I think I finally found the answer your looking for, about the original movie you was asking about I'll Be Home For Christmas .If you look it says 1.85:1 NON-anamorphic . The other movie you listed as reference Jingle All the Way is widescreen anamorphic. Anamorphic vs. Non-Anamorphic DVD, to lose the black lines using non-anamorphic dvd's you will have to adjust your TV settings, not your dvd player settings. OR view using 4:3 ratio which will most likely put lines on the sides.