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Pixel Aspect, Creating content for LCD /vs CRT
I understand creating content in AE for TV, one works in square pixel aspect ratio:
NTSC Standard Def 720×534 and squish/resize to 720×480 as the TV ‘s rectangular pixels will stretch that image back to shape.My question is about designing for content to end up on LCD TVs and Plasma TVs. All my knowledge is for CRTs and I am not sure if it applies to the new generation of TVs.
Eg does working in widescreen still apply for LCD:
NTSC Standard Def Widescreen 856 x480 and squish the final comp to 720×480 so when played back on TV the anamorphic image is stretched back out to shape.Thanks,
Robin -
7 Replies
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What kind of device is playing the content?
If DVD, then you render 720×480 widescreen, and tag the clip as widescreen (16:9) in the DVD authoring app.
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Typically that is what I was doing, however the media player that will be displaying the content (in a digital signage environment) is connected to the LCD via VGA connection.
I was not sure if that would affect the resolution or content creation specs.
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All computer display systems work in square pixels. So for example, if your LCD has a native resolution of 1024×768, create the content at 1024×768 square pixels, and be sure the computer feeding the VGA signal is also set to that resolution. You’ll need some form of hefty compression to play back video at this resolution however. If you have drive speed playback issues, you may be better off working at a lower resolution and using software (the video playback software) to blow the picture up to the full-screen display resolution.
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But that is where my question lies.. if content created for CRT TV (for example an advertisement) has gone through this process of designing in square pixel then squishing down, with full knowledge that the CRT TV will stretch it back, what happens if the TV isnt CRT but is LCD or Plasma or DLP. Do those TV sets share the same rectangular pixels as tvs or do all LCDS tvs now have square pixels.
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All NTSC and PAL output, no matter what the screen is rectangular pixels unless it’s HD. it took me a while to get it, but if you just look at the templates that are included you will start to catch on. If you need square pixel comps I’ve been taught that it is always best just to drag your NTSC or DV project into a square pixel comp for rendering. the software will mix the pixels
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You’re approaching this all wrong. As stated in an earlier post, what’s important is the playback medium, not the end device. Any NTSC or PAL device (like a DVD player, a standard def tape machine etc) will use standard NTSC or PAL rectangular pixels. Any direct-from-computer playback uses square pixels. If you are feeding a CRT TV or an LCD TV with an NTSC signal, the results are the same – the monitor is accepting a standard NTSC signal. If you are feeding a VGA signal directly to an LCD TV, the TV will expect the VGA signal to have square pixels.
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Ah thank you, that clears it up. Our digital signage players have in the past been outputting composite and svideo signals to CRTS. Now that most clients are using VGA -> LCD / Plasma it seems it will treat it as square pixels. And as such, based on this, I should be creating content in square pixel aspect ratio.
Thanks guys
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