User Guide

ADOBE ENCORE DVD 2.0
User Guide
62
The screen aspect ratio is determined by two factors: the resolution of the image and the size of the pixels within it,
or the pixel aspect ratio. As the resolution for a given asset is constant, (for example 720 x 480), Adobe Encore DVD
sets screen aspect ratios based on the asset’s pixel aspect ratio. For more information about pixel aspect ratios, see
“About pixel aspect ratios” on page 60.
Widescreen content on fullscreen TVs
There are several different methods used to convert widescreen content to 4:3 format for display. Some of the
methods convert the widescreen format to fullscreen format and store the converted fullscreen video on the DVD.
The preferred method stores the original widescreen video on the DVD, and the DVD player converts it as necessary
during playback to a fullscreen device. Adobe Encore DVD stores the original widescreen footage on the disc and
instructs the DVD player to letterbox it on playback to a 4:3 TV, regardless of the DVD player’s settings.
If you’re working with widescreen footage, you typically work with and store the content in its widescreen format and
let the DVD player convert it during playback.
DVD players use the following methods to convert widescreen video for display on a 4:3 device:
Pan and scan Cropsthewidescreenvideotofitthefullscreenframe.Panandscanlosesthevisualdataoutsideofthe
4:3 frame. Traditionally, an editor or technician guides the pan and scan process during conversion from film to TV
formats. DVD players use an automatic pan and scan. Automatic pan and scan (limited to horizontal tracking of the
full height of the picture) crops the image that is stored on the DVD in widescreen format, and displays it on 4:3
devices.
Note: If a set-top DVD player is set to pan and scan, Adobe Encore DVD overrides the player and displays the footage
in letterbox format.
Letterbox Shrinks the image until it fits the 4:3 format horizontally and displays black bars in the blank spaces at the
top and bottom of the frame. The resolution of the image is lowered, but the image remains whole—no cropping
occurs. DVD players use automatic letterbox to display footage stored as widescreen on 4:3 devices.
16:9 NTSC footage
A. Original B. DisplayedbyaDVDplayerusingtheoriginalwidescreenformatonawidescreenTV C. Using automatic pan and scan to crop
the image on a 4:3 TV D. Using automatic letterbox to reduce resolution and display the entire image on a 4:3 TV
A B
C D