Letterboxing quality/options at DVinfo.net

Jami Jokinen · March 3rd, 2003, 03:31 AM

I have a miniDV to DVD project that is going to be projected with 4:3 LCD-projectors

It's been shot on XL1 in 16:9 (no, we're not going to discuss about the quality of this mode this time ;).

I have four options to do the letterboxing:

1) Before mpeg-encoding in premiere e.g. with Canopus PiP-plugin
2) during the encoding process in tmpgenc
3) let the DVD player do it
4) flatten the picture in the projector

Which one of these would give the best picture quality? Or is there a significant difference at all?

Zac Stein · March 4th, 2003, 05:03 AM

4.

that will yield the best results, no loss of resolution.

Jami Jokinen · March 4th, 2003, 05:34 AM

If the image size adjustment works digitally, it has to lose resolution, right?

It's hard to believe that the projectors would resize the picture optically.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

Rob Lohman · March 4th, 2003, 04:53 PM

If you know your output to be 4:3 you will get the best quality
in 1 & 2 or 4. The last one (4) is only true if it is a optical effect
with the lens, otherwise the preference goes to 1 & 2 because
there you will have the full source image to work with and the
best routines to process them (instead of having to do it real-
time (speed over quality).

I know TMPGEnc resize is pretty good. Can't talk about Canopus
one.

However if you ALSO want to use it on anamorphic TV's or
projectos then the only thing to do is let your DVD player do
the downscaling, so that your anamorphic viewings will use
anamorphic.

Rob Lohman · March 4th, 2003, 05:29 PM

I have responed to your other thread

March 3rd, 2003, 03:31 AM	#1
Jami Jokinen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 103	Letterboxing quality/options I have a miniDV to DVD project that is going to be projected with 4:3 LCD-projectors It's been shot on XL1 in 16:9 (no, we're not going to discuss about the quality of this mode this time ;). I have four options to do the letterboxing: 1) Before mpeg-encoding in premiere e.g. with Canopus PiP-plugin 2) during the encoding process in tmpgenc 3) let the DVD player do it 4) flatten the picture in the projector Which one of these would give the best picture quality? Or is there a significant difference at all?

March 4th, 2003, 04:53 PM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If you know your output to be 4:3 you will get the best quality in 1 & 2 or 4. The last one (4) is only true if it is a optical effect with the lens, otherwise the preference goes to 1 & 2 because there you will have the full source image to work with and the best routines to process them (instead of having to do it real- time (speed over quality). I know TMPGEnc resize is pretty good. Can't talk about Canopus one. However if you ALSO want to use it on anamorphic TV's or projectos then the only thing to do is let your DVD player do the downscaling, so that your anamorphic viewings will use anamorphic. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 4th, 2003, 05:29 PM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I have responed to your other thread __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 4th, 2003, 05:03 AM	#2
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	4. that will yield the best results, no loss of resolution.

March 4th, 2003, 05:34 AM	#3
Jami Jokinen Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 103	If the image size adjustment works digitally, it has to lose resolution, right? It's hard to believe that the projectors would resize the picture optically. Hopefully I'm wrong.