letterboxed
Horizontal bars preserved
Letterboxed describes a video format that preserves a film's original wide aspect ratio by adding black bars above and below the image.
Before widescreen TVs became standard, letterboxing was the only way to watch films at home without cropping the sides: I prefer the letterboxed version—you can actually see the whole frame.
The term comes from the resulting shape resembling a mail slot.
Horizontally extended display format
- aspect ratioWidth-height relationship of images
- 16:9Common display proportion
- pillarboxBritish street mail receptacle
- windowboxOutdoor sill container
black bars · cropping · fullscreen · 4:3 · anamorphic · matting · scope · flat
Optical media format
- Blu-rayHigh-definition optical media
- VHSAnalog tape format
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- home videoPersonal recordings for private viewing
special edition · remaster · restoration · video format · high definition · 4K · standard definition · HDTV
One demanding strict adherence
- film preservationSafeguarding motion pictures
- classic filmsEnduring, acclaimed movies
- arthouseVenue for noncommercial films
- home theaterDomestic entertainment system
Broadcast viewing device
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- NTSCAnalog video encoding standard
- PALTelevision color standard
network · syndication · modified · cropped · station identification · commercial break · airtime · transmission
widescreen
Horizontally extended display format
- aspect ratioWidth-height relationship of images
- 16:9Common display proportion
- pillarboxBritish street mail receptacle
black bars · windowbox · cropping · fullscreen · 4:3 · anamorphic · matting · scope · flat · preserve
DVD
Optical media format
home video · special edition · remaster · restoration · video format · high definition · 4K · standard definition · HDTV · widescreen TV
purist
One demanding strict adherence
- film preservationSafeguarding motion pictures
- classic filmsEnduring, acclaimed movies
- arthouseVenue for noncommercial films
home theater · enthusiast · director's vision · cinematic experience
television
Broadcast viewing device
PAL · network · syndication · modified · cropped · station identification · commercial break · airtime · transmission
letterboxedpan-and-scan
Selective widescreen cropping technique
cropped · fullscreen · full-frame · stretched · distorted