Aspect ratio refers to the width and height of the image, expressed as a ratio. That's all there is to it. The TV and computer screens you've seen all your life have a 4:3 aspect ratio. That means for every 4 units of width, you have 3 units of height. We don't generally talk about 4:3 aspect ratio in daily life because we've always differentiated these screens by their diagonal measurement: 27' TVs, 52' bigscreens, 19' monitors. When there was only one commercially-used aspect ratio, the diagonal was the only way to distinguish size.
While there have always been other aspect ratios floating around in various applications, no one cared until wider screens started showing up on laptops, monitors, TVs and as a label on DVD boxes. The most common widescreen aspect ratio is 16:9, which is (as you might have guessed) 16 units of width for every 9 units of height. In and of itself, a picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio isn't any better (quality-wise), it's simply wider.
Resolution, on the other hand, is all about the quality. It refers to the number of dots or lines that compose an image, and how it is expressed depends on whether you are talking about computers or TV. Computer resolution is expressed in number phrases or letters. For example, 1024x768 (also called XGA resolution) means that there are 1,024 pixels on every row and there are 768 rows, for a total of 786,432 pixels. TV resolution is expressed in the number of lines counted vertically followed by either an 'i' or a 'p'. 'I' stands for 'interlaced', and it means that the screen draws the odd lines top to bottom and then goes back and fills in the even lines top to bottom. 'P' stands for 'progressive', and that means all lines are drawn in sequence. Standard definition TV is 480i, so it has 480 interlaced vertical lines. There are a number of HD resolutions on the market, such as 720p and 1080i.
It gets a little confusing when your start mixing aspect ratio and resolution. To keep it simple, remember that High Definition is always recorded in 16:9 but it can be displayed in 4:3. However, 16:9 aspect ratios are not always in a High Definition resolution.
Now we're ready to look at whether 16:9 is the right choice for your church. Here are some reasons to considers:
First, because they are wider compared to their 4:3 counterparts, they work great when you're dealing with low ceilings.
Secondly, 16:9 screens are a better match for our field of view, which is more left to right than top to bottom. This is more in line with our eye-flow and the way we read onscreen content. Third, everything is moving in the direction of 16:9. Eventually everything we want to display will be in a native 16:9 format. We're not there yet, but HD and/or 16:9 models of many of your primary system pieces are available now – such as your screen, projectors, and cameras. Your investment will not only meet your immediate goals, but also work for you in the future. If you're considering purchasing or upgrading to a system with this look, there is good, better and best way, and then, of course, there is the wrong way.
The 'good' way would be to select one of our Widescreen systems. These use native 4:3 projectors with a 16:9 mode. Even though there are some drawbacks,gps units, this option allows churches who in the past could not afford to go this direction to take advantage of this cool new technology. This is good (but not great) because it works and because it is the most affordable solution we have found. The most important drawback is that most install projectors will say that they have a 16:9 mode, but it can be deceiving. You always lose some brightness and resolution when you do this, and not everyone will take that into account. Check with your Fowler representative before choosing this option to make sure you don't lose more than you gain.
The 'better' way would be to invest in a Native 16:9 (WXGA resolution) projector.
This choice allows you to take advantage of the full resolution and brightness of the projector. Also native 16:9 projectors are much more user-friendly and require less setup.
The 'best' way is to use a native High Definition projector with your 16:9 screen. There are a few large venue projectors on the market today with a native resolution of 720 vertical pixels. You need to be prepared to spend over twice the amount for a WXGA (1366x768) equivalent, and without a true digital HD system from front to back, you won't gain much from this investment in the short run.
Remember, there is much more to your projection system than just the projector and screen. Your mixing/switching options have to be compatible with the new 16:9 aspect ratios and you have to be sure that your cabling is of a high enough quality to handle the higher bandwidth of HD signals. Much of the content that we use is still formatted for a 4:3 screen. Some worship presentation software applications allow you to set your aspect ratio to either 4:3 or 16:9.
So you're ready to move towards a 16:9 screen… What now? Call Fowler and we can walk you through the options with you to determine the best solution for your ministry and your budget. Anything else&hellip,car gps; would be the wrong way!
To request more information about Fowler's Widescreen / Native 16:9 / High Definition Systems call Fowler at 800-729-0163 or visit email us at info@fowlerinc.com.
没有评论:
发表评论