An odd little question

[Jadzia]

Do you readily notice when the aspect ratio of an image is incorrect?

Say you've got a widescreen image squashed into a 4:3 screen, do you readily notice it the wrong shape?

I've noticed how some people don't seem to notice it at all. Even if it's people's faces, and it's pointed out, it isn't obvious to the observer.

I'm interested to hear people's own experiences and thoughts about this.

 

[Emher]

I always do. But I'm a movie geek who hates when films are shown unproperly.

 

[Hermiod]

Yes, instantly. Even if it's slightly off, I spent ages trying to figure out why Adam Savage looked a bit thin during a episode of Mythbusters I... erm... received via telepathy.

 

[Jadzia]

In some ways, for the brain to auto-correct the aspect ratio to the point of not noticing it being incorrect is a brain-skill. That we can still instantly recognise faces when they have been deformed this way is a brain-skill.

But in other ways it can be thought of as a deficiency in perception. And that is geometric perception isn't it?

So I'm undecided whether it's an outright advantage or not.


I was also thinking, related to this, one of the tests they do for body dysmorphia is to change the aspect ratio of a photograph of a person and ask if the person looks 'thinner' or 'fatter' or 'correct'.

People with body dysmorphia are apparently less able to identify the correct aspect ratio, but I don't know if this is limited only to images of bodies or applies to images in general.

I find this fascinating.

 

[Elmo Dukat]

I usually notice this horizontally, unless it's excessively doctored. Vertically stretched is actually harder for me to recognize. Weird.

 

[RoJoHen]

My friend and I have been watching Buffy on DVD, which is fullscreen, while my TV is a widescreen. I adjust the ratio to make it fit my screen, and I never notice a difference. It's possible parts of the picture are cut out to make up for this change, but I still don't notice anything.

In fact, when I switch back to the normal aspect ratio, I tend to think people look too narrow!

 

[Elmo Dukat]

My friend and I have been watching Buffy on DVD, which is fullscreen, while my TV is a widescreen. I adjust the ratio to make it fit my screen, and I never notice a difference. It's possible parts of the picture are cut out to make up for this change, but I still don't notice anything.

In fact, when I switch back to the normal aspect ratio, I tend to think people look too narrow!

I've noticed that, too!

 

[Jadzia]

I usually notice this horizontally, unless it's excessively doctored. Vertically stretched is actually harder for me to recognize. Weird.

So you notice short and stumpy distortions of people as being abnormal, but tall and thin people look normal.

I would imagine that's quite common.

 

[Rÿcher]

I notice it immediately, even at the movie theater. Their excuse; the previews have a different lens than the feature.

I can even see when someone's refresh rate isn't right on their CRT monitor. Drives me batty.

 

[Mr Awe]

I do notice it very quickly. My wife doesn't.

Mr Awe

 

[jamestyler]

Whether it's stretched or cropped I notice quickly and it can irritate me. My mother doesn't notice or care - so when I'm visiting I'm always 'fixing' her settings.

 

[Jadzia]

For myself, I notice it incorrect if I'm looking at pictures of people, but if it's just background scenery I often don't.

 

[Finn]

Yeah. Lately, I've noticing that the people seemed squished on some shows...

 

[Elmo Dukat]

I usually notice this horizontally, unless it's excessively doctored. Vertically stretched is actually harder for me to recognize. Weird.

So you notice short and stumpy distortions of people as being abnormal, but tall and thin people look normal.

I would imagine that's quite common.

Ugh, I've been brainwashed by the cultural ideals of our society

 

[Holdfast]

I notice it transiently, but it doesn't really bother me and I can still enjoy whatever I'm watching.

I have a widescreen TV, but when watching a 4:3 TV DVD, it does some kind of clever squish to it. It's not as distorting as a full-on squish (I think it's non-linear in terms of which bits of the screen it compresses and I think it might do a slight crop too), but it does make people marginally fatter than they should be. But you know, I'm used to Monica and Chandler being podgier these days.

 

[Nobody]

I majored in broadcasting, so yeah, I notice immediately and it annoys me. I usually can't watch shows or movies that are improperly formatted.



-nobody

 

[RoJoHen]

I notice it transiently, but it doesn't really bother me and I can still enjoy whatever I'm watching.

I have a widescreen TV, but when watching a 4:3 TV DVD, it does some kind of clever squish to it. It's not as distorting as a full-on squish (I think it's non-linear in terms of which bits of the screen it compresses and I think it might do a slight crop too), but it does make people marginally fatter than they should be. But you know, I'm used to Monica and Chandler being podgier these days.

Depending on the season, both of them could probably have benefited from a little widening.

 

[Small White Car]

It's job to notice things like this, but it would drive me crazy anyway.

I'm grateful that my wife feels the same way. I honestly couldn't live with someone who was ok with distorted images. It'd be like living with someone who smokes or is a totally opposite religion from me. It just wouldn't work out.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, I notice; and I find it kind of creepy.

 

[Holdfast]

I notice it transiently, but it doesn't really bother me and I can still enjoy whatever I'm watching.

I have a widescreen TV, but when watching a 4:3 TV DVD, it does some kind of clever squish to it. It's not as distorting as a full-on squish (I think it's non-linear in terms of which bits of the screen it compresses and I think it might do a slight crop too), but it does make people marginally fatter than they should be. But you know, I'm used to Monica and Chandler being podgier these days.

Depending on the season, both of them could probably have benefited from a little widening.

Harsh, but true.

Joey, on the other hand, could use some definite slimming in some seasons!