How to find out if a screenshot is okay?

[Sema]

Hallo!

I have repeatedly now with different players had the problem that the screenshots were in some form deformed. Sometimes I can see it myself, sometimes I can't.

Is there a way to find out if a player produces proper screenshots?
Does the screen resolution or other factors influence the players capabilities?
I had a resolution of 1280x1024 for some time and switched to 1280 x 960 only a couple days ago. (17'' TFT screen).

Gruß,
Sema

[maryah]

Sema, the problem you've run into is with "Aspect Ratio". Part of the problem is that computer screens have square pixels, IOW each pixel is the same width as height. When video is stored on DVD's, the pixels are rectangular, wider than they are tall. DVD players (both standalone and PC-based) are made to compensate for this difference, so that dvd video comes out looking right when you play it. But when you make a capture with some software it grabs the raw non-square pixels, so your screen cap looks like it's stretched vertically. Does any of that make sense? LOL

Then things get even more complicated for 'anamorphic' dvd's (like Swades, in your sig), where the video is stored to use as much of the available pixels as possible for the actual movie instead of storing black bars in the DVD too. For a good explanation of that, see the following: http://gregl.net/videophile/anamorphic.htm

This whole subject is very complicated, and there aren't any hard and fast rules that can be applied in all cases. Sometimes it helps to have an SRK pic in front of you that you KNOW is the right aspect ratio, and then compare with what you're trying to adjust. For instance, I played with the pic you used to have in your sig, and found that reducing the height to 75% of what it was made it look just perfect, as your sig does now. :)

[Sema]

Hm... alright, so I just have to try my best and adjust the pics afterwards.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Mary, and if I understood you right, also for the corrected sig. :wink:

Gruß,
Sema