The changeover literally happened overnight and was a great success. Digital widescreen channels carry the 16:9 Full Height master image while the old 4:3 stations (broadcast in the analogue PAL system) transmit a 14:9 'letterbox' image from the same commercial copy. This creates many possibilities for how a commercial will be see by the viewer.

To help explain these possibilities, Seizmic Limited has produced a free reference card. The card compares the effect on an image through the different combinations of digital or analogue transmission and home TV aspect ratios. The flip side shows how different techniques for converting older 4:3 material can be seen by the viewer.

We'll be happy to send a copy to anyone involved in the production and post production business. Just send us an email to wscard@seizmic.co.uk or write to us.

Read how corkscrew makes working in widescreen easy!

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Software for film and television.