Video scaler

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Stretch-o-Vision
)
"FlexView" redirects here. Not to be confused with
IBM Flexview
.
A blow-up of a small section of a 1024x768 (VESA XGA) resolution image; the individual pixels are more visible in its scaled form than its normal resolution.

A video scaler is a system which converts

standard definition) to a higher resolution (such as 1080i high definition
), a process known as "upconversion" or "upscaling" (by contrast, converting from high to low resolution is known as "downconversion" or "downscaling").

Video scalers are typically found inside

video switching capabilities. These units are commonly found as part of home theatre or projected presentation systems. They are often combined with other video processing devices or algorithms to create a video processor that improves the apparent definition
of video signals.

Video scalers are primarily a

analog
inputs and outputs.

Process

This is a comparison of several common video resolutions. The more pixels in an image the greater the possibility for finer detail and fidelity.

The

VESA video standards each with several different resolution video formats. Multiple common resolutions are also used for high-definition television; 720p, 1080i, and 1080p
.

While scaling a video signal does allow it to match the size of a particular display, the process can result in an increased number of

ringing and posterization
.

Scaling by television channels

Television channels which air a mixture of

14:9 letterbox—a technique used primarily by European broadcasters during the transition to digital terrestrial television.[4][5] The Active Format Description standard is a system of variables defining various scaling, letterboxing, and pillarboxing states; broadcasting equipment and televisions can be configured to automatically switch to the appropriate state based on the AFD flag encoded in the content and the aspect ratio of the display.[6]

When the U.S. cable network

plasma televisions, some older HDTVs could not stretch 4:3 content automatically, and the quality of stretching on some displays was poor.[2] Despite TNT's intentions, the system was frequently criticized by viewers of high definition channels, with some nicknaming the effect "Stretch-O-Vision".[2][7]

In 2014, FXX faced similar criticism for its use of cropping and scaling on reruns of The Simpsons (which only started producing episodes in HD beginning in its 20th season), as its cropping method caused various visual gags to be lost. In February 2015, FXX announced that in response to these complaints, it would present these episodes in their original 4:3 aspect ratio on its video-on-demand service.[3][8]

Since about 2008, some networks and cable companies have run high-definition versions of old programing that was originally shot on film shown in the 4:3 format. This format always cropped the sides of the image. For example, syndicated broadcast stations and the cable network

35mm film source, making new HD masters and cropping the top and bottom parts of the frame, while restoring the sides.[9]

AI upscaling

In 2023, video upscaling products using generative artificial intelligence were previewed or released, such as NVIDIA's Video Super Resolution and Adobe's Project Res-Up. Unlike previous upscaling systems, these technologies generated new data based on provided video frames.[10][11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Video Upscaling for better viewing experience". hometoys.com. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  2. ^ a b c "TNT Stretches for HD". TV Week. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  3. ^ a b "FXX will finally stream The Simpsons in original 4:3 format". The Verge. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  4. ^ Bob Wolfley (September 2, 2010). "Fox Sports taking a wider view of football". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Journal Communications. Archived from the original on September 5, 2010.
  5. ^ "Beyond HD". BBC Academy. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Managing AFD: Keep image format under your control". TV Technology. January 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Just say no to stretch-o-vision". EngadgetHD. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  8. ^ "FXX ruins the punchline by inexplicably cropping old standard definition 'Simpsons' episodes". The Verge. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Seinfeld goes HD on TBS HD". AOL. September 3, 2008. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  10. ^ Anderson, Ross (9 December 2023). "The Best AI Tool You're Not Using is Video Upscaling". The New York Sun.
  11. ^ Weatherbed, Jess (11 October 2023). "Adobe previews AI upscaling to make old, fuzzy videos and GIFs look fresh". The Verge.
  12. ^ Chacos, Brad (28 February 2023). "Tested: Nvidia's RTX Video Super Resolution is like going from VHS to Blu-ray". PC World.
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