@CarlW2020 wrote:
I've started having a weird issue with the picture on my Q. It only affects shows that are not in full 16:9 format; ie ones that have the "black bars"* on them.
After a few seconds, the picture will stretch to fill the screen. I have only seen it happen with the streaming services right now as I'm not watching any shows on the standad channels that have the "black bars" on them.
I assume it's the box rather than my TV but I have no way to tell as I don't have another streaming stick to test against. (Hmm. I do have some apps on my TV so I might try one of those tomorrow.)
Anyone got any thoughts?
Thanks.
(* Yes, I know they're not really black bars but you know what I mean!)
hi @CarlW2020
It depends on how the image is being sent & whether it is maintaing the 4:3 format & letting the TV make the decision on how to show it - in which case it is down to the 'Aspect' setting (most TVs call it that I think) which may have options like auto/zoom,16:9,4:3
For any HD Satellite channel I think they always broadcast in 16:9 and usually add the black bars either side to maintain the aspect ratio - I think some SD channels may use 4:3 to let the TV decide
Regarding the ratio, you probably know but:
The reality is that 4:3 content clearly is not the same as modern TV s screen ratio of 16:9 & thus something has to happen
Thus there are roughly three options
1) add black bars either side of the 4:3 image showing the full 4:3 image and ensuring that the 4:3 image is not distorted
2) fill the 16:9 screen by cutting off content either top & bottom - this may be done by adjusting how much is cut off either on the top vs bottom depending on where the action is (the same amount must be cut off -but may be adjusted up and down as to where)
3) fill the 16:9 screen by distorting the 4:3 content leaving all the 4:3 image to be shown but the picture is stretched - sometimes this is done by stretching more at the edges and leaving the central portion correct
Similar things may have to happen with any films shot in wider aspects (e.g. 2.39:1) which again are different to the the 16:9 physical screen (16:19 which is approx 1.78:1). In this case any black bars used are top & bottom.
This latter difference is what had to happen when Films not shot in 4:3 were shown on the older 4:3 TVs
In the UK the option to show films in those days was usually the one similar to 2) above and was known as Pan & Scan because they would Pan along the image to central the image on the action cutting off the edges of the film.
In Europe more often and in the UK occasionally we would see films in original aspect with the black bars top & bottom
I have always been a fan of seeing the whole image in the original aspect using option 1) to add back bars to fill the rest of the physical screen - this tends to be the usual method of showing 4:3 content now on HD/4K TVs
We know some people feel they are loosing out by having the back bars - which they are not - and would prefer either of the 2 options 2) & 3) to utilise the full screen but with either the loss of some of the action in option 2) or the distortion of option 3)
