-
Widescreen
Widescreen images are images that are displayed within a set of aspect ratios (relationship of image width to height) used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35 mm film.
For television, the original screen ratio for broadcasts was in fullscreen 4:3 (1.33:1). Largely between the 1990s and early 2000s, at varying paces in different nations, 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen TV displays came into increasingly common use. They are typically used in conjunction with high-definition television (HDTV) receivers, or Standard-Definition (SD) DVD players and other digital television sources.
With computer displays, aspect ratios wider than 4:3 are also referred to as widescreen. Widescreen computer displays were previously made in a 16:10 aspect ratio (e.g. 1680×1050), but now are usually 16:9 (e.g. 1600×900).
-
Letterbox (adjective)
Transferred to home video formats while preserving the original aspect ratio, having black bars above and below the picture area.
-
Letterbox (noun)
A collection point for mail intended for onward delivery, a secure box or receptacle for this purpose.
-
Letterbox (noun)
A delivery point for mail, a box, compartment or slot for this purpose.
-
Letterbox (noun)
A hidden container that holds a logbook and rubber stamp, found by following clues.
-
Letterbox (verb)
To transfer a widescreen motion picture to home video formats while preserving the original aspect ratio, with the placing of black bars above and below the picture area.
-
Letterbox (verb)
To hunt for letterboxes (containers with logbook and rubber stamp) by following clues.
-
Widescreen (noun)
A screen with a wider aspect ratio than the ordinary 35-millimeter frame, making more effective use of the human field of view and producing a more immersive view experience.
-
Widescreen (adjective)
Filmed in a greater aspect ratio than the 1.33:1 or 1.37:1 aspect ratio.
-
Widescreen (adjective)
Presented in the original aspect ratio; presented in letterbox orientation.