Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Blu-Ray projection

This is topic Blu-Ray projection - aspect ratio in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Kerz (Member # 6577) on 09-03-2014, 07:44 AM:

We have a Christie 2230 at our drive-in. When we project a 1:85 Blu ray, the size of the image projected is equivalent to 1:33. The 1:85 Blu-Ray image is letter boxed within the square 1:33 area being projected. We need the screen to be filled with the full 1:85 Blu-Ray image. Does anyone know how to project a Blu Ray presentation with an aspect ratio which would fill the screen (i.e. the picture equivalent to 1:85)? Thanks!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-03-2014, 08:53 AM:

Step 1, put your BluRay player in 1080p mode.
Step 2, make sure the Christie's input is set to progressive or tick the "auto" checkbox.

This should get you to a 16x9 image (1920x1080) with a 1.85 image inside (presuming it is matted to 1.85, or 1920x1038). If you want that to fill the 1.85 raster, you can then go into input files and define the image as 1920x1038 with a ratio of 1.85 and the projector will scale it up to 1998x1080, cropping away the black bars. This can be done similarly for "Scope" ratios by defining the image as 1920x804 with a ratio of 2.39...the projector will scale it up to 2048x858.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-03-2014, 12:42 PM:

Also check the signal format setting of your BluRay Player. It may be set to 4:3 or something. Basically you can never trust any BluRay Player settings to be okay right out of the box or whereever it came from. Get the manual and go through all the settings to set them properly.

Yes, I know these settings are hard to understand often, but then there is this forum to inquire.

Can you post the exact model number of the player?

- Carsten

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 09-03-2014, 06:58 PM:

Step 3: Convert your Blu-Ray to DCP. [Wink]

Obviously, this takes a bit of preparation, but it beats fiddling around with Blu-Ray players and their pesky settings, on-screen menus and extra stress due to lack of automation during prime time.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-03-2014, 07:20 PM:

That's for sure. I hope to never play a DVD or BluRay through our projector again.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-03-2014, 07:59 PM:

Converting to a DCP is not always an option, as it usually takes at least 6-10 hrs on a fast PC, and you neeed access to the disc early enough to prepare it.

Have a decent player in the booth, properly configured, and use it only when absolutely needed.

Mike - what player is it, and how is the audio connected?

- Carsten

Posted by Mike Kerz (Member # 6577) on 09-04-2014, 08:23 AM:

Thank you for all of your responses and help.

I will check the exact model number of the blu-ray player when we are at the drive-in this weekend.

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 10-04-2014, 04:47 PM:

Note that most 1.85 films are "opened up" to 16:9 (1.78:1) on Blu-ray. Same width, more height. This used to bug the hell out of me until film restorer Robert A. Harris told me he was fine with it.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-04-2014, 10:11 PM:

I have not found that to be the case (1.85 movies opened up to 16x9). That is certainly true of some but darn near every "Flat" movie I selected for a BluRay test was indeed 1.85 with thin letter box bars.

Depending on the venue, I'll set up two BluRay settings with the Flat being either 16x9 or 1.85 (letting it crop 16x9 slightly) or give them all three 16x9, 1.85 and 2.39. Now some venues...I have 5 or more BluRay formats to cover most every thing they may encounter...including all of the letterbox/anamorphic permutations when coming all of the way from DVDs. I have some theatres that can open their screens up for 4x3 quite a bit so that may warrant its own setting (particularly to mask off keystone).