1080p vs pixel resolution
stingray -- Fri, 11/02/2007 - 08:53
I am confused. I don't understand how a tv; e.g. Pioneer PRO-1150HD, Issue 82, can display 1080p yet have 1365x768 pixel resolution. I thought 1080p implied 1080x1920 pixel resolution. Does a 1080x1920 pixel resolution with a 1080p display imply a 11 mode and any other pixel resolution is a fraction thereof? Please explain. Thank-you for your time.
You've hit upon the source of much confusion. The term "1080p" can be applied to a TV's pixel resolution and to video signals, and it means much the same in both cases. But you must be careful to keep in mind which is which.
When applied to digital TVs, "1080p" means that the TV has 1920x1080 resolution. When applied to video signals, it means that the signal is conveying images with 1920x1080 resolution. The "p" stands for "progressive," which means that the signal conveys each frame of the video image in one pass, rather than two passes as in an "interlaced" signal, which is denoted "1080i." A 1080i signal still conveys images with 1920x1080 resolution, but each frame is divided into two "fields": field 1 contains all the odd-numbered lines and field 2 contains all the even numbered lines. The two fields are reassembled into a frame within the TV, a process called "deinterlacing."
Some TVs that have less than 1920x1080 resolution can still accept a 1080p signal. Others cannot accept 1080p, in which case the player must send a 1080i signal. In both cases, the TV must "scale" or resize the 1920x1080 image to fit its native pixel resolution, which is exaatly what the Pioneer PRO-1150HD does.
Scott Wilkinson
Video Editor
The Perfect Vision
can further be simplified by saying a TV has a 1080p native resolution VS ACCEPTING a 1080p signal.
Most 768line displays will accept 1080i signals, but must interpolate the signal to fint the 768line display. Even 720p signals must be modified to fit 768 line diplays.
I always hated the fact that the TV industry didn't adopt 768p and 1024p instead of 720p/1080ip since that has been the native display resolutions for so long.
Post new comment