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ASPECT RATIO
ASPECT RATIO allows you to 'shape the image' properly, and is dependent on the type of source you
are using. For example, most DVDs are recorded in Anamorphic, and Laser disc movies were almost
all letterbox. 4:3 is the standard aspect ratio that is used today; all standard televisions are in this
shape as are standard broadcast transmissions. HDTV is always anamorphic.
Let's take a look at what aspect ratios are all about...
An 'aspect ratio' is simply the ratio of the height vs. the width of the screen. For example, the current
aspect ratio standard is 4:3 (or 1.33:1), where the image is 4 units wide and 3 units tall.
3 units tall
4 units wide
All of our 'regular' televisions are this aspect ratio. You have probably noticed that occasionally you'll
watch a movie that does not fill the screen vertically. This is because the movie was filmed in
WIDESCREEN (letterbox), and the result is 'black bars' above and below the image:
Obviously, watching a movie like this does not lend itself to a truly cinematic
Experience! This is why Runco invented the first-ever multiple aspect-ratio projection system back in
1991, so true movie-lovers can watch actual widescreen (letterbox) movies on a WIDESCREEN!
The term "WIDESCREEN" can relate to a number of different aspect ratios; many movies are either
1.85:1 or 2.35:1, and HDTV is always 1.78:1 (16:9).
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