Ella Walter
Pan and scan is a technique used to reformat widescreen films for viewing on standard television screens. It involves cropping and zooming to ensure the film fills the entire screen, preventing the display of black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. While this technique provides a full-screen image, it often results in the loss of visual information, alteration of the director's original vision, and a decrease in the overall resolution of the film. The introduction of DVDs and changes in television aspect ratios have reduced the use of pan and scan, but it continues to impact how films are viewed and understood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio of television sets when they were first created | 1.33:1 or 4:3 |
| Aspect ratio of widescreen formats in the 1950s | CinemaScope (2.35:1), Todd-AO, and VistaVision (1.85:1) |
| Aspect ratio of home video mediums in the 1970s and 1980s | LaserDisc, VHS, and Betamax |
| Aspect ratio of DVDs | 16:9 |
| Aspect ratio of HD DVD and Blu-ray | N/A |
| Aspect ratio of widescreen TV | 16:9 |
| Aspect ratio of films with a widescreen image that includes visual information above and below | N/A |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 2.35:1 ratio | 43% cropped out |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 2.55:1 ratio | 48% cropped out |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 2.76:1 ratio | 52% cropped out |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 1.78:1 ratio or less | N/A |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 14:9 ratio | N/A |
| Aspect ratio of films with a 16:9 ratio | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding the issue with pan and scan
Pan and scan is a film editing technique used to modify widescreen images for display on a fullscreen screen. It involves cropping the sides of the original widescreen image and panning across it when the shot's focus changes. This technique was introduced to fit widescreen films into the confines of a 4:3 frame, which was the aspect ratio of television sets when they were first created.
The issue with pan and scan lies in the cropping of the original image, which can result in the loss of key visual elements and a change in the pacing, atmosphere, and suspense originally intended by filmmakers. This can alter the director's or cinematographer's original vision and deprive the audience of significant visual information. For example, in a scene with two speakers, the pan and scan version may only show one person speaking off-screen, as the other person has been cropped out of the frame.
Another issue with pan and scan is that it can change the timing of appearances for the audience. For instance, in a shot that was originally panned to show something new, the pan and scan version may change the timing of when something enters the shot, impacting the overall flow of the scene.
In addition, the pan and scan process can be jarring for viewers, as the pan does not look like a natural camera move. It can also result in the inclusion of extraneous objects or equipment within the frame that were not intended to be seen.
While pan and scan was common in the 1980s and 1990s when movies were released on VHS and Betamax, it is now mostly an outdated process. With the advent of widescreen televisions and high-definition formats, the idea of buying a movie in "fullscreen" is becoming obsolete. However, some channels and sites still present films in pan and scan format, despite criticism from filmmakers and viewers who value the preservation of the original aspect ratio.
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The widescreen boom
However, the widescreen boom also presented challenges, particularly when it came to adapting widescreen films for home viewing. As most television sets at the time still used the 4:3 aspect ratio, widescreen films had to be modified to fit these screens, leading to the development of techniques like pan and scan.
Pan and scan is a film editing technique used to modify widescreen images for display on a fullscreen screen. It involves cropping the sides of the original widescreen image and panning across it to follow the action, often resulting in the loss of visual information. While this technique allowed widescreen films to be viewed on 4:3 screens, it was often criticised for compromising the original vision of the filmmakers.
As television technology evolved and widescreen televisions became more prevalent, the need for pan and scan diminished. Today, with most televisions supporting widescreen formats, viewers can experience films as they were intended to be seen, preserving the original aspect ratio and compositional choices of the filmmakers.
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How pan and scan works
Pan and scan is a film editing technique used to modify widescreen images for display on a fullscreen screen. It involves cropping the sides of the original widescreen image and panning across it when the shot's focus changes. This technique was used to make widescreen films fit the 4:3 aspect ratio of television screens.
During the pan and scan process, an editor selects the parts of the original filmed composition that appear to be the focus of the shot and ensures that these are copied ("scanned"). When the important action shifts to a new position in the frame, the operator moves the scanner to follow it, creating the effect of panning.
If the actors are closer together on the screen, the editor may pan slightly, alternately cropping one or the other partially. This method preserves the maximum resolution of the image since it uses all the available vertical video scan lines, which is especially important for NTSC televisions, which have fewer lines than other standards. It also gives a full-screen image on a traditional television set.
However, this method also has several drawbacks. Some visual information is unavoidably cropped out. It can also change a shot in which the camera was originally stationary to one in which it is frequently panning or change a single continuous shot into one with frequent cuts. In a shot that was originally panned to show something new, or in which something enters the shot from off-camera, it changes the timing of these appearances for the audience.
Pan and scan has been widely criticised since its inception, with critics disapproving of the cropping of the original image. Creating new shots or cuts may alter cinematic effects, impacting the pacing, atmosphere, and suspense originally intended by filmmakers. It can also alter the director's or cinematographer's original vision, as well as the intended field of view, by depriving the audience of significant visual information.
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The drawbacks of pan and scan
One of the main drawbacks of pan and scan is the loss of visual information. The technique involves cropping the sides of the original widescreen image, which can remove up to 45-52% of the original image, depending on the aspect ratio. This cropping can result in the removal of important details or ambiance that were originally intended by the filmmaker. For example, in the film Oliver!, the murder committed by the character Bill Sikes is altered due to the cropping and panning of the image.
Another drawback of pan and scan is that it can change the way a shot is presented. A shot that was originally stationary may become one with frequent panning or cuts, altering the timing of appearances for the audience. This can be jarring for viewers and detract from the original cinematic effects intended by the filmmakers.
Additionally, pan and scan can impact the viewing experience by requiring mechanical "pan" movements to accommodate lost visual information. This can be distracting and take away from the immersion of the film. The technique was common in the days of VHS and early DVD releases, but with the advent of widescreen televisions and high-definition channels, letterboxing has become a more common method of displaying widescreen films without the need for cropping.
Overall, while pan and scan can provide a full-screen image on traditional television sets, it comes at the cost of sacrificing the original aspect ratio and potentially altering the artistic vision of the filmmakers.
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Alternatives to pan and scan
The need for pan and scan has greatly decreased in recent years, as most modern televisions and display devices are already widescreen and have a 16:9 aspect ratio. These displays can naturally accommodate most widescreen films with minimal or no black bars. Viewers are now generally accustomed to letterboxing, and many even prefer seeing the original, unaltered composition.
Preserving original aspect ratios is now standard industry practice. Streaming services and Blu-ray releases usually present films in their original formats. Thus, pan and scan is mostly a relic today. It largely represents past technical limitations and viewing preferences.
One modern alternative to pan and scan is to adjust the source material directly. Another alternative compromise that was popular for television in the early 2000s was "shoot and protect", whereby important details are framed within a 4:3 "safe area" in the middle of a 16:9 image. This allows the final product to be watchable when center-cropped to 4:3, with the creative limitation that a shot's focus can't stray too far from the middle of the frame.
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Frequently asked questions
Pan and scan is a technique used to reformat movies with widescreen aspect ratios to fit the 4:3 aspect ratio of standard TV screens. This involves a technician moving a standard definition viewing window horizontally across the wide image to capture the most important parts of the scene.
Pan and scan was introduced to avoid displaying black bars at the top and bottom of the screen when watching widescreen movies on standard TVs. Without this technique, viewers would miss out on important visual information.
One major drawback of pan and scan is that it can remove up to 52% of the original image, degrading the artistic elements of the film. This can include cropping out important visual details, altering the pacing and atmosphere, and changing the timing of appearances by introducing frequent cuts and panning.
Pan and scan can provide a full-screen image on traditional television sets, enhancing the viewing experience for those with standard TVs. However, it can also result in a loss of smoothness in scenes, especially during conversations between two speakers.
Alternatives to pan and scan include pillarboxing, where black bars are added to the sides of the image to maintain the original aspect ratio, and open matte, where the image is zoomed out to include additional visual content. With the rise of 16:9 TVs and advancements in DVD technology, viewers can now often choose their preferred aspect ratio.
