What resolution is a normal, bog standard TV?

  • Deleted user 15 March 2005 19:26:23
    I want to burn some stuff onto a DVD and I need to know how low I can DivX it down.

    Cheers.
  • mal 15 Mar 2005 19:32:32 29,326 posts
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    infinite by 625 lines. Of course, some of those lines are going to be off the screen, and the x resolution isn't infinite in practical terms. It's limited by the input bandwidth (and possibly carrier frequency, not sure) and the dot pitch of the TV. In any case, it's usually significantly more across than it is down, but maybe not as much as twice as good.

    Oh, and the 625 lines are interlaced, so per 50Hz frame, it only shows half that many lines. But I guess your DivXes will run at 25fps or thereabouts.
  • Deleted user 15 March 2005 19:32:41
    720 x 486

    Edit: 6's are not 0's remember that cubby

    Edited by cubbymoore at 19:33:51 15-03-2005
  • Deleted user 15 March 2005 19:35:17
    That'll do me nicely, cheers.
  • Ceatlan 15 Mar 2005 19:38:56 105 posts
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    Actually its 720x576 for PAL and 720x486 for NTSC.

    The extra lines that take PAL and NTSC to 625 and 525 respectively and not visible and are what is used to send information like teletext.

    These resolutions are true regardless of the aspect ratio of the TV i.e. PAL 4:3 and PAL 16:9 are both 720x576 pixels.

    I write computer software that creates on screen graphics for broadcast television all over the world, so trust me these are the correct numbers.
  • sam_spade 15 Mar 2005 19:39:32 15,745 posts
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    352 x 288 is the res of VHS video, if you want space over quality.

    Edited by sam_spade at 19:41:39 15-03-2005
  • Deleted user 15 March 2005 19:41:44
    Ceatlan wrote:
    Actually its 720x576 for PAL and 720x486 for NTSC.

    The extra lines that take PAL and NTSC to 625 and 525 respectively and not visible and are what is used to send information like teletext.

    These resolutions are true regardless of the aspect ratio of the TV i.e. PAL 4:3 and PAL 16:9 are both 720x576 pixels.

    I write computer software that creates on screen graphics for broadcast television all over the world, so trust me these are the correct numbers.

    Well you learn something new everyday. Sorry about the misinfo Kalel.
  • WoodenSpoon 15 Mar 2005 20:02:51 12,360 posts
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    What program do you use to 'DivX something down' to watch on a TV?
  • Deleted user 15 March 2005 20:04:07
    /brain explodes
  • reflux 16 Mar 2005 08:17:15 1,804 posts
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    Ceatlan wrote:
    Actually its 720x576 for PAL and 720x486 for NTSC.

    The extra lines that take PAL and NTSC to 625 and 525 respectively and not visible and are what is used to send information like teletext.

    These resolutions are true regardless of the aspect ratio of the TV i.e. PAL 4:3 and PAL 16:9 are both 720x576 pixels.

    I write computer software that creates on screen graphics for broadcast television all over the world, so trust me these are the correct numbers.

    Erhm.. 720*576 would indicate either not full overscan or non-square pixels. PAL is 768*576 for square pixels and 720*576 for DV/D1 pixels, isn't it?
  • Deleted user 16 March 2005 09:59:27
    WoodenSpoon wrote:
    What program do you use to 'DivX something down' to watch on a TV?

    Bit new to all this, but I was going to use Dr DivX.
  • MikeD 16 Mar 2005 10:53:12 10,063 posts
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    kalel wrote:

    Bit new to all this, but I was going to use Dr DivX.

    Suppoert open standards! Use Xvid!

    /strokes beard

    Oh fuck, I shaved.

    Use Windows media codec!
  • warlockuk 16 Mar 2005 12:30:52 19,519 posts
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    I thought it was 720 x 576 for UK PAL, and NTSC was 720 x 480?
    ...or 704x576...
  • Deleted user 16 March 2005 12:35:20
    MikeD wrote:
    kalel wrote:

    Bit new to all this, but I was going to use Dr DivX.

    Suppoert open standards! Use Xvid!

    /strokes beard

    Oh fuck, I shaved.

    Use Windows media codec!

    Don't really know what you mean, but as long as I don't have to pay for something else (I already bought Dr DivX), then fine.
  • Ceatlan 16 Mar 2005 12:42:33 105 posts
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    reflux wrote : Erhm.. 720*576 would indicate either not full overscan or non-square pixels. PAL is 768*576 for square pixels and 720*576 for DV/D1 pixels, isn't it?

    Neither PAL or NTSC have square pixels in either 4:3, 14:9 or 16:9.

    When people are using PC or Mac graphics programs to create 4:3 graphics for PAL TV, and are not using software that can handle non square pixels, then yes they create images that are 768*576, which are then converted to 720x576 by any TV broadcast software/hardware before final use. Likewise for 16:9 images they will work in 1024x576 whilst using square pixel based image editing software, again the broadcast equiment will only convert it to 720x576 before playout.

    It is also true that most TV playback software on PC's or Macs will stretch the image to one of these square pixel sizes again to compensate for the non-square pixels in the TV source image, and generally square pixels on PC desktops. Although it is worth noting that not all PC desktop resolutions are square pixels, for instance 640x480 is square pixel hence so is 1280x960, however a lot of people have there desktop set to 1280x1024 which is not actually square pixels.

    The overscan you mention is to do with the fact that most TVs don't actually let you see all of the 720x576 image, it is actually only about the centre 704x528 pixels that ever get seen. This is called the safe area, and is something everybody who works in TV knows about and understands that there is no point putting anything you want the viewer to see outside of this area.

    Basically standard definition TV graphics are a complete nightmare, which is why I as someone who writes software for the TV industry find HD such a breath of fresh air. All the HD formats are 16:9 and square pixel, making things a lot simpler.


    Edited by Ceatlan at 12:46:12 16-03-2005
  • mull 16 Mar 2005 13:01:43 463 posts
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    1280x1024 which is not actually square pixels.
    - just to nitpick, LCDs using this res have square pixels, though CRTs at his res will have wonky pixels.
  • bainbrge 16 Mar 2005 13:08:13 1,687 posts
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    mull wrote:
    1280x1024 which is not actually square pixels.
    - just to nitpick, LCDs using this res have square pixels, though CRTs at his res will have wonky pixels.

    so would a circle appear ovoid on a 1280*1024 LCD?
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