measuring aspect ratios?

[hudson]

How do you measure an aspect ratio of a movie/dvd?
E.g
1:78:1
1:85:1
2:35:1

[blutach]

It is defined in the IFOs and VOBs. DVDs are either 4:3 or 16:9 (1.78). Some are shot in narrower aspect ratio but are classified as widescreen.

A 16:9 DVD must be automatic letterbox or automatic pan and scan (while it can also be "widescreen" - this refers to anamorphic widescreenscreen). The former preserves the theatrical aspect ratio (2.35:1 or even as high as 2.80) on 4:3 TVs by adding black bars to the top and bottom, while Auto P&S will fill the pic onto a 4:3 TV, chopping off the sides (yecch!!!).

A good discussion can be found here.

Regards

[ashes]

@hudson

Hi!

If you're asking what the numbers mean, in layman's terms it's a comparision of the relative width of the picture (1.78,or 1.85, or 2.35) to the height of the picture (1.00).

Another way to say this would be that each picture element or pixel is 1.85 times as wide as it is high.

[hudson]

thankyou for replies blutach and ashes.
The reason I ask this i an trying to find out if a dvd is 1.78.1 cropped or matted, or the original aspect ratio is 1.85.1. I asked the distributor and a review site and they both state different aspect ratios! So I look in the ifos to see what the aspect ratio is?
Pan and scan no good.

[blutach]

The IFOs will simply say if it's 16:9 or 4:3. What does the cover of the original DVD say?

You could, of course, measure it. Freeze a frame. And measure the horizontal and vertical lengths. Divide one into the other and presto.

PS 1.85 and 1:78 are almost indistinguishable.

Regards