Help with particular aspect ratio

[EAO]

...and I don't even know it's real size!!

If it makes a difference, this is for ntsc. What I'm looking for is that 'inbetween' aspect ratio that some dvd's and TV shows are done in.

It's bigger than 16:9, but smaller than 4:3. It's not full screen. There is still a black bar along the top and bottom, but it's much smaller horizontal bars than with 16:9.

I've got some of my (legit bought) Star Trek movies in widescreen and I'm thinking about converting them to this setting.

What aspect ratio is this?

Can anyone give me a hand with what setting to use in...TMPGenc(?) or will I have to convert using some other program?

[teegee420]

2.35:1

For instance: 640x272.

By the way, I wouldn't advise encoding an mpeg with that aspect ratio. You can't get a valid DVD resolution with that AR for one thing. Any reason why you want to do this? Also, are you sure it's not 16:9? Look at the image in my signature, it has a 2.35:1 AR. Is that the AR you're thinking of?

[EAO]

I'm not sure about your image, but I do know that the image is still a rectangle, and your image looks square, so I don't think that's it.

It's hard to explain in laymans terms...and I'm no expert. On my Tv when I watch 16:9 I lose almost a 1/4 of the viewing image from the top and bottom. In this aspect ratio, I lose about 1/8th from the top and bottom.

You know I never thought about it being DVD compliant...and even though I understand that, the fact is that I've seen TV broadcast in that ratio.

For instance Farscape has done episodes in that ratio.

[teegee420]

I'm fairly certain you're thinking of 16:9. Here's a screen cap I made of last week's Star Trek: Enterprise. The clip I am playing is a Divx conversion I made that has a 16:9 resolution of 480x270. Note: the software player I used automacticaly letterboxed the image. Otherwise it wouldn't have any bars at all.



Is that like what you're picturing? If your source uses this aspect ration it's still possible to create a valid DVD file. You just have to letterbox it so that the final image is 4:3. This can be done in TMPGEnc by going to Settings>Advanced and change the arrange method to "Full Screen(keep aspect ratio)".

[EAO]

Yup that's what I'm thinking about. So what I don't get is that if this is 16:9, then what is the ratio of the widescreen movie format on a dvd like Star Trek's?

And if I took my widescreen Star Trek movie dvd and plugged it in at the settings you list, are you saying it will convert it to what you showed me?

If so, then...

Does it stretch it or will it cut some of the image? I would rather it cut some of the rightside and leftside image.

[teegee420]

So what I don't get is that if this is 16:9, then what is the ratio of the widescreen movie format on a dvd like Star Trek's?

2.35:1

Does it stretch it or will it cut some of the image? I would rather it cut some of the rightside and leftside image.

It will only stretch the image. You'll have to crop the sides as you suggested. I couldn't tell you how much off the top of my head. My math isn't that good. :P

[EAO]

I've never cropped before. I suppose I'm trying to crop so that I maintain a 16:9 ratio. Can TMPGenc do this or what is an easy program to play with? (Virtualdub?)

[teegee420]

TMPGEnc can do it. It's ont he "Advanced" tab of the settings dialog. Select "Clip Frame". If you post the resolution of your DVD I can help you with how much you should crop.

[EAO]

LOL. I would if I knew how to. Since it's a ntsc DVD, wouldn't it be 720x480.

Is there a way to tell?

[teegee420]

I did some playing around with the clip frame function and I think I have the right values to use assuming your video is 720x480. By the way, when you open the clip frame dialog it tells you what the original resolution is. Anyhow, it should look about right if you clip both the top & bottom by 36 and both the left & right each by 52. Leave the arrange method at "Full Screen". Try a test clip and see how it looks to you.

EDIT: On second glance, that doesn't look right at all. It looks way too cropped. Hopefully someone else can help you out with the crop settings because I'm unsure of how to compute the correct numbers. There has to be a formula that I'm not using.

[vhelp]

Hi guys,

I gave up on Star Trek Enterprise, after too much jimmy'ing the source quality,
I just forget about it ..ain't worth it.

But, these shows, are aired w/ 1:85.1 AR, if not, then 16:9 (aka, 1.778)
That's why the smaller bars (top/bottom) 1.85 and 1.778 are very close in
size. So, either one of those AR's should probably do.

The 2.35 is definately NOT this show's AR during broadcast.

And remember, this source is not DVD, it's 720 (assuming you captured
it that way, so encode w/ proper AR w/ 720 in mind)
.
.
DVD is different, most are Anamorphic. So, even though the source may
be in 720, it's really ~852, but squished to fit 720 and encoded as 720. But
in a sense, the 852 is actually "incrypted" inside a 720 container.. sort of an
illusion
When you true Widescreen TV set received one of these "incrypted" source,
it "decrypts" it and .. vualla.. no loss in original AR pixel resolution.
.
.
Now, the captures, assuming you capture at 720, is again, a container. But,
this time, the source could be 480 or less, or even 720. There is not much
you can do, because in reality, no-one knows what the TRUE resolution
of any Broadcasters source and signal is !! In this case, its a hit 'n miss.
You do what'cha gotta do, w/ what'cha got, and live with it :P

-vhelp