How to Keep From Resizing an HDTV

Set the remote control once and forget about resizing your HDTV.

Resizing a high definition television (HDTV) refers to an adjustment in screen size known as the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is a comparison of the width of the TV image to the height, which is 16:9 on an HDTV. This ratio is a widescreen format. Older, tube-type TVs have a 4:3 aspect ratio. This is the almost-square screen size for TV shows made before the 1990s and most movies released before 1960. To avoid resizing your HDTV, make a few simple adjustments to your equipment using the remote control.

Things You'll Need

• HDTV remote control
• DVD or Blu-ray player with remote control for viewing discs

Instructions

1. Press the "Power" button on the remote control to turn on your HDTV. Press the "Menu" button and the down arrow key to scroll to "Screen Size," "Aspect Ratio" or similar wording, depending on your TV brand. Press "Enter" or "OK."

2. Push the down arrow key to highlight 16:9 and push the "Enter" key to select. TV programs broadcast in widescreen format will fill the display of your HDTV. Older programs recorded in a 4:3 aspect ratio will display black bars on the left and right of the screen. Leave this setting as-is to avoid resizing the screen.

3. Press the "On/Off" button for your Blu-ray or DVD player remote control and push the "Menu" button to access the aspect ratio settings.

4. Select 16:9 for viewing discs in widescreen format. Select 4:3 to watch older movies made before 1960 or TV shows produced before 1990 that you may have on disc. This setting compresses the image to a format that will appear normal on your widescreen HDTV. You must switch between the two aspect ratios when you change Blu-ray or DVD discs recorded in a different aspect ratio, but the HDTV settings can be left alone.

Tips & Warnings

• A "letter-box" image features black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. Bars on the left and right sides of an HDTV appear when you view 4:3 programs, which are closer to square in shape.

• Avoid viewing boxed programs in a 4:3 ratio during the first 100 hours of viewing on a new HDTV. This helps avoid screen burn-in, which destroys the light-producing pixels in the affected area, ruining your screen. Similarly, do not pause programs for long periods of time on your HDTV to avoid burn-in.

References

• CNET: HDTV Aspect Ratios