| There is a new video format on the rise. A fair share | | | | to greater resolution, but often times, you'll notice |
| of television owners these days will likely understand | | | | watching a wider and longer screen produces a sort |
| the difference between the 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, | | | | of dramatization in the picture that simply is not |
| but for those of you who don't, it's the height versus | | | | matched by 16:9 video. |
| width difference between your LCD or plasma | | | | So how do you put this technology in your home? |
| television and the old tube televisions you had 10 years | | | | How It All Comes Together |
| ago that was almost shaped like a box. So now that | | | | Outside of the obvious need for a projector, there are |
| we've got you thinking in those terms, allow me to | | | | two items that are required to produce the anamorphic |
| introduce to you the concept of Cinemascope, the | | | | picture: a super-wide screen and an anamorphic lens |
| newest format to hit the screens in a big way. | | | | with its respective lens adapter kit. The lens adapter kit |
| You may have noticed that watching movies on DVD | | | | will attach to your projector and is motorized, so when |
| or Blu-ray sometimes results in black bars on the top | | | | you want to watch movies in Cinemascope, the motor |
| and bottom of your screen. That's because the films | | | | will swing the lens into place, and when you are |
| you are watching have been shot in a 2.35:1 aspect | | | | watching normal television, the lens will be off to the |
| ratio (for reference, 16:9 is reduced to 1.78:1). To make | | | | side and out of the way. There are a small number of |
| a long story short, watching a 2.35:1 movie on a 16:9 | | | | different lens and lens adapter kits out there, so you |
| screen results in about 33% of picture area lost in the | | | | will want to make sure you pick up one that will work |
| form of black bars. To remedy this, some | | | | with your specific model projector. |
| manufacturers are creating screens in the wider | | | | The future of Cinemascope will likely be every bit as |
| format as well as optics that will combine with your | | | | bright or brighter than its past, which started all the |
| projector to produce pictures that wide. | | | | way back in 1953 with the release of The Robe. Once |
| The Appeal of Cinemascope | | | | you begin to look for it, you'll find that a very large |
| Also referred to as anamorphic video, Cinemascope | | | | portion of your favorite films are distributed in this |
| allows viewers to watch movies the way the director | | | | format. If you have any further questions regarding this |
| intended them to be seen at the box office. Not only | | | | emerging technology, do not hesitate to give us at |
| does cutting off the top and bottom black bars equate | | | | Digitech a call. |