TV Display Formats

36Chapter 3. TV Operation

This is a widescreen TV, also known as a 16:9 TV. This shape reflects the new types of images available from HDTV and many DVDs. There are still many older style narrow-screen images (called 4:3 aspect ratio) you will encounter. While there will never be a perfect solution for displaying a narrow image on a wide screen, Mitsubishi offers several display formats from which to choose.

Press FORMAT on the TV remote control to cycle through the available display formats. The last-used format for each device is used when you return to that device.

Note: Not all formats are available for PIP/POP. Side-by-Side is only available in Standard and Expand formats.

DVD Definitions

Anamorphic (or Enhanced for Wide-Screen TV’s): These DVDs are recorded in a special way to properly show widescreen images on 16:9 TV sets in the Standard format mode. This is the recommended choice.

Non-Anamorphic (or 4:3, 1:33:1, Letter Box or Full Screen):

These DVDs are recorded for use with traditional shaped TVs. They may be full screen (4:3 or 1:33:1) which crops movies to fit the narrow TV, or Letter boxed, which adds black top and bottom bars.

This information may or may not be listed on the DVD case. Some DVDs support both types of recordings.

Signal Definitions

480i Signals: Traditional analog interlaced signals from or through ANT 1, INPUT 1–3, COMPONENT inputs, and HDMI inputs.

480p Signals: Progressive-scan analog DVD signals on COMPONENT inputs and HDMI inputs.

720p & 1080i Signals: High-definition analog signals received through COMPONENT and HDMI inputs. These signals are always 16:9 (widescreen).

SD 4:3: Standard-definition narrow-screen format signals from digital channels.

SD 16:9: Standard-definition widescreen format signals from digital channels.

HD: High-definition wide-screen format signals from digital channels. These signals are always 16:9 (wide- screen). Note that broadcasters often convert standard

programming not originally created in high definition. These standard-definition programs usually originated with a 4:3 aspect ratio. To fit the 16:9 format required for high-definition broadcast, the broadcaster may fill the space by either expanding the picture or by adding side bars.

Format Definitions

Standard: This is the full-screen format. HDTV signals use this format. This format is useful for displaying Anamorphic DVDs that have 1.78:1 or 1.85:1 aspect ratios. Anamorphic DVDs that have a 2.35:1 aspect ratio are displayed with black bars at the top and bottom, but show the entire image correctly. Narrow (4:3) images are stretched evenly from side to side. Available for all signals.

Expand: This enlarges the picture to fill the screen, crop- ping off some of the image at the top and bottom. This is useful for reducing the letter box top and bottom bars of non-anamorphic DVD images. Available for analog 480i, 480p and digital SD 4:3 signals only.

Zoom: This enlarges the picture, cropping off some of the image at each side and top and bottom. This is useful for removing or reducing the black top and bottom bars on anamorphic DVDs with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Available for analog 480i and 480p and SD 4:3 signals only.

Stretch: This format stretches a narrow (4:3) image across the screen; there is less stretch in the center than at the sides, however. This allows the entire narrow image to be displayed across the screen with less distor- tion than is seen in the Standard format. Available for analog 480i and 480p and SD 4:3 signals only.

Stretch Plus: Similar to stretch mode, but to minimize distortions on the side, the picture is expanded to crop off portions of the top and bottom. When no PIP is dis- played, you can press ADJUST up or down to vertically adjust the position of the picture. Available for analog 480i and 480p and SD 4:3 signals only.

Narrow: This format displays narrow (4:3) images in their original shape, and adds stationary black side bars to fill the screen. Available for 480i, 480p and digital SD 4:3 signals only.

Wide Expand: Enlarges the picture, cropping some of the image on both sides. This Expand format is useful to remove or reduce black side bars added to narrow images that are converted to 16:9 signals for digital broadcast. Available for analog 1080i, 720p, digital SD 16:9 and digital HD signals.