What is the difference between a widescreen& full-screen DVD?

Great Answer

Professionally Researched. (What's this?)

Older TV screens aren't the same shape as movie theater screens. Two methods have been devised to deal with the process of converting films to be watched on a television set: "Pan and Scan" and "Letterboxing."

Aspect Ratios

Most theatrical films are produced in an aspect ratio of approximately 16:9. For every 16 units wide, a 16:9 aspect ratio film will be 9 units tall. Older TV sets have an aspect ratio of 4:3, so for every 4 units wide, an older TV screen will be 3 units tall.

Pan and Scan

Films have often been cut down to a 4:3 aspect ratio for VHS tapes and DVDs using a method called "Pan and Scan." When the "Pan and Scan" method is used, much of what could be seen in the original film frame is lost in the full-screen format.

Letterboxing

To maintain the original aspect ratios of films for home viewing, a technique called "Letterboxing" was developed. Letterboxed films retain the original 16:9 aspect ratio of a theatrical release by placing black bars above and below the video.

Widescreen DVDs

Widescreen DVDs use letterboxing to allow the viewer to see the entirety of the original frame as intended by the film's cinematographer.

Widescreen TV Sets

In recent years, widescreen TV sets with 16:9 aspect ratios have been introduced. Widescreen films can fill the entire TV screen.

Source:

Widescreen.org/John L. Berger

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Whats the differnce betwen 4 3 and 16 9 when burning dvds

What is the difference between widescreen and full screen

Difference between wide and full screen

Full screen dvd hard to find

Question how to get 2010 dvd fullscreen

Question

What is the difference between a widescreen& full-screen DVD?

Answers. 1 helpful answer below.