CRT Widescreen TV friendly "black bars"

[Bram]

I think it would drasticly imprive the image quality on my TV if there was an option to show black bars when using a widescreen skin. This way my TV would detect the widescreen skin itself I wouldn't have to switch display modes on the tv, which always has a negative influence on the image sharpness.

If I watch a widescreen movie in the 4:3 mode my TV offers, it zooms the movie automaticly to fit the screen. The same thing would happen with a skin I suppose. The image would be much sharper than the "widescreen" option the TV has. When using "16:9" or "Automatic" options on my TV, the skin won't fit in the screen.

I know I have a old TV, but I think a lot of people do. This could be a very helpfull function and allow the widescreen users that can set a resolution (other then PAL or NTSC) to use the skins the way they are using them now. Without quality loss.
The only time when no bars should be shown is when watching 4:3 video material.

[Bram]

Am I the only one with a widescreen CRT?

[generator]

No me 2, i guess this would be nice... I just don't know how it's gonna improve the image quality?

[illStyle]

This is not a very good solution if I got you right. You want the TV to automaticaly zoom up a 4:3 letterboxed image. This would result in a qualitiy loss as you lose like 30% of the PAL resolution.

The second thing is, it is not the same thing as if your TV stretches a 4:3 movie to fit the screen. As a 16:9 CRT TV has the same resolution as a 4:3 CRT TV you can't display a 4:3 movie on a 16:9 in full PAL resolution if you want to keep the aspect ratio, you have to stretch it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterbox



Regards,
Simon

EDIT: The solution to your problem is to ouput an anamorphic picture which is possible with NVIDIA cards. I'm trying to find a guide but I'm afraid it is in german.

[Bram]

Ah, thank you! I have Nvidia card. But haven't fount how to send the picture anamorphic.
My german is good enough to understand what the guide says.


edit: Don't bother looking up a guide (thanks anyway)! It's fixed. I've create a custom resolution of 1024x520. The font's are much more readable when setting the TV to the "Widescreen" mode (16:9). Still, the picture quality is not perfect. But it's usable.

[illStyle]

Well if you would still like to read the guide here it is:
http://www.mce-community.de/forum/in...howtopic=12588

Works with 1024x576. The headline says it's for FBAS/S-Video but works with component as well. It works, I tested it with my old Samsung Slimfit 16:9 CRT. The picture quality is excellent, looks as good as a DVD player or settop box.

Regards,
Simon

[Bram]

Thanks! The more detailed configuration does help a bit.

[sifra]

What about an english translation/solution for this? I think this is just the thing missing, to get my Mediaportal HTPC perfect