The 1280x1024 paradox at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Windows / PC Post Production Solutions > Non-Linear Editing on the PC

Non-Linear Editing on the PC
Discussing the editing of all formats with Matrox, Pinnacle and more.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 16th, 2004, 06:33 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 820
The 1280x1024 paradox

Is 1280x1024 a bad resolution to edit in? I've come across many a video editor who works in this mode (while trying to answer my question by searching, for example), but nobody ever brings up the fact that while 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x960 are 4:3 ratio displays, 1280x1024 is not. Logic would tell me, then, that if computer pixels are always square, images and video displayed on a monitor running at said resolution should look distorted. But they don't. All the images and movies I have on my computer seem to look exactly the same in every resolution, even though the aspect ratio changes.

As much of a computer nerd as I consider myself to be, I cannot figure it out. Is the OS/software compensating for this in some way? Are the pixels non-square when in such a resolution?

Or is there another, incredibly obvious, reason that I'm simply not seeing?
Robert Martens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 16th, 2004, 06:52 PM   #2
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 11,787
Well I can't speak for Windows systems, but on my Mac if I choose 1280x1024 the aspect ratio changes by changing the amount of CRT surface that is covered by the raster (vs 1600x1200 that I normally use on my 21" monitor). So I think the pixels are still square, but the overall image size changes. Maybe PC's handle this differently however?
Boyd Ostroff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 17th, 2004, 05:21 AM   #3
RED Code Chef
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Holland
Posts: 12,514
I think Boyd has the correct answer. All the pixels should remain
sqaure. Which you can easily test. Draw a perfect circle in a paint
program when running onder 1024x768. Save the picture. Close
the program and switch to 1280x1024. Load the picture in the
program again. Still perfectly round? Then you're set to go.
__________________

Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com
DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef

Join the DV Challenge | Lady X

Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors
Rob Lohman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 17th, 2004, 01:18 PM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Cambridge, UK
Posts: 164
1280x1024 is just 720x576 enlarged equally (by a factor of 1.7777!) in both dimensions. So it corresponds to PAL video with PAL rectangular pixels.

But why would somebody want to edit in this mode? It's not a multiple of 720x576, so if you are delivering the result as PAL D1 video, the downsize won't be clean. It's not a square pixel 4:3 image so if you deliver the result to a computer, you again will have to resize.

Who are these "many a video editor" who work in this resolution? Can you find out why?

Regards,

Julian
Julian Luttrell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 17th, 2004, 07:16 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 820
Ah...I see. Making much more sense now, I hadn't considered the resizing of the actual scan area (though my monitor in particular offers the ability to manually stretch/squash the screen, perhaps that's dangerous).

Julian, I think one of the reasons is that your average 17" LCD panel (which seems to be a very popular size for such a screen) runs at 1280x1024 natively. Changing resolutions on one of those things is less than ideal. What's more, there's always the possibility that a monitor/graphics card won't support 1280x960; I've had cards like that, myself.

And if it makes a difference, I'm an NTSC guy. PAL mileage (or "kilometerage", I suppose :P) may vary.
Robert Martens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 17th, 2004, 08:14 PM   #6
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Posts: 11,787
I *think* they are using the 1280 pixel width on those screens so they can letterbox a 1280x720 HD image and call it "HD capable". Running an LCD panel at anything other than its native resolution is a bad idea as scaling will degrade the image. I have a 17" Sony 16:9 LCD screen with a native resolution of 1280x768 and my 15" Powerbook screen runs at 1280x854.

I still have a 21" Apple Studio Monitor (Trinitron) CRT screen as my primary display. Analog CRT's are more flexible when scaling images to a variety of resolutions. But after lugging this monster up and down a few stairs, when it dies I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get the big Apple Cinema Display :-)
Boyd Ostroff is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Windows / PC Post Production Solutions > Non-Linear Editing on the PC

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:16 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network