Aspect Ratio/Resolution Question

[kidcash]

Hello,

Here is my situation.

I have encoded a file with convertxtodvd.

When I use mediainfo or gspot to get information on the VOB files, It shows that they are all 720 x 576 in resolution, that is not a widescreen resolution, when played back the picture should be like a square since its a 1.25 aspect ratio. When I playback the file it has a widescreen aspect ratio, more like a 720 x 400 video.

What I do not understand is why does a 720 x 576 video looks like its a widescreen video, when the picture should be pretty square? I am confused.

Thanks,
Kidcash.

[guns1inger]

In video, pixels are not always square. 720 x 576 can represent PAL 4:3 or PAL 16:9, depending on the pixel and display resolutions used when encoding. I have also seen poorly ripped DVDs resized to 720 x 576 with a 1:1 pixel aspect ratio, giving them a distorted appearance.

[SanderMan]

check here why: http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/aspectratios.htm

[kidcash]

Ah that must be why, because the converter had to upsize the video to DVD Video Resolution which for PAL is 720 x 576, but it had to keep an aspect of the original video file in order not to distort the video.