How to Display 16:9 on 4:3 Big Screen TVs

Jumbotron

Published on Tuesday, 20 December 2016 09:15

Fire Up Video

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Displaying 16:9 Content on 4:3 LED Screens

It is possible to watch a standard size video on a non-standard size screen, you’ll just need to decide how you want it to be displayed. There are basically three different options that will show the video either by distorting the image, cutting off the sides, or leaving some unused black space around the video. We can choose the display type that fits your needs and your video specifically.

The first option is to letterbox the image. This means there will be black bars on the top and bottom of the screen, without distorting or losing any of your image. This option is similar to watching a wide-screen DVD on a standard television .

Another option is to zoom the image in to fill the entire screen, which will then cut off part of the image to the far left and far right. You will have to check the images to see if there is any content near the edges that would get off, but if the far sides are clear of important content, this can be a good display option, as there is no wasted space and the image fills the entire screen. And if we are shooting with live cameras, we would notify our operators not to shoot anything to close to the edges. As long as they know this, they will be able to adjust their shots and keep the action towards the center of the shot.

A third option is use an anamorphic display to your image. This option squeezes the image so that it fits perfectly to all edges of the screen. This way, the entire image is displayed while making use of the entire screen. The fallback with this option is that the image can look strange and distorted.

All of these options have some benefits, as well as some drawbacks, but the best option always depends on each specific situation. With our video processors located inside each screen, we can easily show how each option would like, and you can decide what works best for your event. It is also possible to do some combination of these options, such as zooming in part of the way and only cutting off a portion of the edges. Whatever you decides, we will work with you to give you the best display on the Jumbotron screen. We have two 9x 12 foot screens and two 12×19 foot screens, so we will find the best solution for your content on whichever screen you choose.

Fire Up Video provides mobile LED video boards for outdoor events all over the Midwest. If you have any more questions about video sizing and formatting, or about renting a big screen TV, please contact us at 844-533-8848 or baum3@earthlink.net. We rent our mobile screens to states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and more.