JZ1276

I noticed alot of dvd's display subtitles on the bottom of the screen on the lower black bar on a 4:3 set. When watching the same movie on a widescreen set, do the subtitles actually move onto the picture itself being that there arent any black bars on the top and bottom of the screen?? I took a screenshot of Black Hawk Down so what am asking can be more clear. When watching the same DVD on my 4:3 set, the subtitle was actually much further down, not covering the picture at all, whereas on my PC it was half on the picture and half on the black bar.

caligulathegod

When you watch the movie in Anamorphic mode (which is what your computer is doing), the subtitles display on the picture. If the film is 2.35:1, then it might overlap into the black bar area (which is still visible on widescreen sets.)

jplatten

On a 16:9 tv the subtitles will not be cut off, rather than being displayed in the black bars - they will be displayed over the actual film.

You will of course need to change your dvd setting to let it know you are using a 16:9 tv and you will need to have your progressive scan feature on.

caligulathegod

Didn't I just say that? Plus, you don't need your progressive scan on.

Mr. Salty

caligulathegod is correct, you do not have to be using progressive scan.

Spiky

Non-anamorphic DVDs are a problem sometimes. If you zoom them to fill the screen, you can chop off the subtitles. Try to get anamorphic whenever possible. This is a problem for me when I record movies on DVD since I haven't sprung for an anamorphic recorder. Obviously, I have to do this.

JZ1276

what do you mean "anamorphic recorder"?

Colleen

He means a DVD recorder that will allow the recording of widescreen content anamorphically (not letterboxed, as most do now), so that you can watch it on a widescreen TV without zooming in.

Spiky

Yep. The nicer ones all have this feature. So far I've only picked up a cheapy, and I'm starting to regret it over this.

I might add, this also gives better resolution to the movie, always a plus.