[Tig] Re: European aspect ratio 1.66:1

[Micheletti, Bob (NBC Universal)]

>  
> Bob, Laurence & Ray.
> 
> Thanks for the input. I guess my concern was this: At IBC it was kinda
> mentioned that the image width, regardless of aspect be 
> scanned at  2048
> and the DCI be 2000. For 1.66:1 this would on Digital 
> projection clip Top &
> Bottom. I fully agree with the view to fit 1.66:1 vertically 
> within the
> 1.85:1 aspect and accept side masking. So long as the masking 
> is at the
> projector, else 'orrible keystoning could occur. Of course 
> some may argue
> that this reduces the resolution of 1.66:1 as less than 2000 
> pixels are
> used for active picture area!
> 
> cheers
> 
> Peter

Peter,

In the trailer world we need to provide both a 2.35:1 and 1.85:1 version of each trailer regardless of the release format.  We frequently have a trailer from a 1.85:1 feature running ahead of a 2.35:1 feature.  It is common practice to "pillar box" and squeeze a 1.85:1 trailer filling the 2.35:1 top to bottom with the 1.85:1 image.  We do this for film and D-Cinema.  Like wise for a 2.35:1 trailer running ahead of a 1.85:1 feature we letter box.  I understand your keystoning concern with the matte being built into the image rather than  on the projector but I think the days of physical mattes, being custom filed by the projectionist, to hide the keystoning are numbered.  As far as I know, none of the digital projectors have provision for custom mattes.  Hopefully they will at least be installed in the center (not the existing left/right ports) of the screen so as to prevent keystoning in the X axis.  The keystoning of the image is always there in film projection it's just the custom matte that hides it.

Anybody know what provisions are built into the current D-Cinema projectors to compensate for the keystoning?

Bob Micheletti
Universal Pictures