You are here: Home > Step 2 - Screen Sizes And Formats
Step 2 - Screen Sizes And Formats
There is a large choice of tv models offering both
flat panel and standard television screens in many
different sizes.The
information below is designed to help you to further
understand how screen sizes are measured and the
difference between existing screen formats.
Screen Size
TV screens are measured diagonally. A 36" TV
will have a screen that measures 36" from the
top right corner to the bottom left corner whether
it is in a flat panel or a standard screen format.
Image Aspect Ratio
This is the ratio of the width to the height of the image displayed on the TV screen. 4:3 is the standard ratio. Many modern televisions are
designed to display a 16:9 wide screen image.
Standard 4:3 format
The majority of television programmes today are
broadcasted in the almost square format of a 4:3
image aspect ratio. Within the next 10 years, which
is the ordinary lifetime of most TVs, the majority
of broadcasted TV films and programmes are likely
to be produced in the widescreen 16:9 format. When
films are shown on conventional TVs much of the
picture is lost when the 16:9 format is altered
to 4:3. Remember, not everybody wants a widescreen
television. However, due to the growth of low cost
LCD televisions in smaller widescreen sizes (less
than 20"), the market is now continuing to
buy widescreen televisions (small and large) in
ever increasing numbers. Tube TV, 16:9 format
The human field of vision is by nature greater on
the horizontal plane compared to the vertical plane.
This makes the 16:9 format an ideal size ratio for
the human eye. Most films are produced in a widescreen
format and can be reproduced in their original format
on a 16:9 TV. With a widescreen television you get
a more cinematic feel at home and a better view
of sport broadcasts.
