Samsung LCD Screen Fit question

[Underworld54]

I have my Samsung LN46B630 set to "Screen Fit" instead of "16:9" and I was wondering if someone could explain to me why 1080i sources apear to have a thin black bar on the right edge of the screen? It only has the bar on 1080i HDTV channels but 720p channels have no thin black bar. I hope i'm explaining this correctly.

[Odin75]

I don't have the B630, but I did have the B750. The menus are the exact same.

Basically, Screen-Fit will stretch the image (if needed), but will maintain the correct aspect ration, and won't apply any zoom. Meaning, that 1080i and 1080p video will be displayed at 1:1 pixel mapping, no stretching needed. For 720p (1280x720), it will stretch it to fill all the pixels 1920x1080, but will keep the correct aspect ratio. Same thing for all signals with 16:9 aspect ratio.

However, when you watch a video that is 4:3, it will stretch keeping the correct aspect ratio, but will stop once it reaches the edge (top and bottom). So, the remaining left and right parts will be filled with black bars, just so the video keeps the correct aspect ratio.

You can press Info in the remote, and it should show you the aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3), and the resolution (480i, 720p, 1080i, etc...) in the top right corner. Just know that Screen-Fit is the best option, as keeping correct aspect ratio is priority #1, you don't want people looking deformed.

Keep in mind, that some stations have the black bars hard coded into the video stream, so there's nothing you can do there. Meaning, that it might be a 4:3 video originally, but they might intentionally add the black bars to each side, effectively turning it into a 720p video, for example. That's just for people with tvs that don't have options to adjust it. It's not a glitch, it's intentional. Some channels that I watch, like WPLG (720p), and Telemundo(1080i), use that method. Just leave it in Screen-Fit and you will be fine.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

I don't have the B630, but I did have the B750. The menus are the exact same.

Basically, Screen-Fit will stretch the image (if needed), but will maintain the correct aspect ration, and won't apply any zoom. Meaning, that 1080i and 1080p video will be displayed at 1:1 pixel mapping, no stretching needed. For 720p (1280x720), it will stretch it to fill all the pixels 1920x1080, but will keep the correct aspect ratio. Same thing for all signals with 16:9 aspect ratio.

However, when you watch a video that is 4:3, it will stretch keeping the correct aspect ratio, but will stop once it reaches the edge (top and bottom). So, the remaining left and right parts will be filled with black bars, just so the video keeps the correct aspect ratio.

You can press Info in the remote, and it should show you the aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3), and the resolution (480i, 720p, 1080i, etc...) in the top right corner. Just know that Screen-Fit is the best option, as keeping correct aspect ratio is priority #1, you don't want people looking deformed.

Keep in mind, that some stations have the black bars hard coded into the video stream, so there's nothing you can do there. Meaning, that it might be a 4:3 video originally, but they might intentionally add the black bars to each side, effectively turning it into a 720p video, for example. That's just for people with tvs that don't have options to adjust it. It's not a glitch, it's intentional. Some channels that I watch, like WPLG (720p), and Telemundo(1080i), use that method. Just leave it in Screen-Fit and you will be fine.

Thanks for your very informative response. I do appreciate you taking the time out and helping me. It's weird that the thin slice of black is only on the right side. I'm currently watching the Sox/Yanks game on YES in 1080i and I get the bar sometimes and sometimes I don't. It depends on the camera shot and what camera they are using. Is this normal? Will this thin bblack bar cause any problem with IR down the road? I know IR is rare for LCD's.

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

Thanks for your very informative response. I do appreciate you taking the time out and helping me. It's weird that the thin slice of black is only on the right side. I'm currently watching the Sox/Yanks game on YES in 1080i and I get the bar sometimes and sometimes I don't. It depends on the camera shot and what camera they are using. Is this normal? Will this thin bblack bar cause any problem with IR down the road? I know IR is rare for LCD's.

Well, If it's only one side, then that doesn't sound right. Switching from full-screen to black-bars within a program, however, is normal. I know Telemundo uses full-screen for News, but black-bars for Interviews (lol?).

And no, it won't cause burn-in, because LCDs don't get that from pure black (that I know), only from actual colors. And if it was possible, I doesn't sound like it happens long enough to even make a difference, as LCDs take forever to get IR, let alone actual burn-in.

Now, about that black bar, have you ever notice it come on other than over-the-air programs? Have you seen while watching movies, or playing games? If not, then can you try watching the same program in another tv in your house (or friends house), and see if it has a similar problem.

I ask, because there is a known problem with Samsung and parts of the screen magically missing. However, that's normally not a problem with their LCDs, but their Plasmas instead. The LCDs generally have a different problem.
Just take a look at this video, and tell me if it's even similar to what's happening with yours:
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

Well, If it's only one side, then that doesn't sound right. Switching from full-screen to black-bars within a program, however, is normal. I know Telemundo uses full-screen for News, but black-bars for Interviews (lol?).

And no, it won't cause burn-in, because LCDs don't get that from pure black (that I know), only from actual colors. And if it was possible, I doesn't sound like it happens long enough to even make a difference, as LCDs take forever to get IR, let alone actual burn-in.

Now, about that black bar, have you ever notice it come on other than over-the-air programs? Have you seen while watching movies, or playing games? If not, then can you try watching the same program in another tv in your house (or friends house), and see if it has a similar problem.

I ask, because there is a known problem with Samsung and parts of the screen magically missing. However, that's normally not a problem with their LCDs, but their Plasmas instead. The LCDs generally have a different problem.
Just take a look at this video, and tell me if it's even similar to what's happening with yours:
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO.

It only appears when I watch cable, and only on 1080i sources.

It's the only LCD in my apartment so a test like that isnt possible. I could however adjust the position of the screen so that the black bar become 2 very very thin black bars on both sides of the screen.

I checked the video and no my issue is nothing like that. The black line is really really thin on the absolute right side of the screen. When the camera did a panorama scene of Fenway Park or a close up of the picture on the mound the picture when from edge to edge without a thin blacl line of the side. I think it's supposed to be there, it's just annoying that it's like this with 1080i sources. Some 1080i channels have even a smaller black border.

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

It only appears when I watch cable...

Ahh, I think that's the key word. Try to find a common channel that both your cable provider and an over-the-air signal has, specially if they are both 1080i. See if you can see the black bar with over-the air, because when I had my B750, I never saw bars in only one side.

Originally Posted by Underworld54

I could however adjust the position of the screen so that the black bar become 2 very very thin black bars on both sides of the screen.

I imagine that's a feature in your set-top-box, instead of the actual tv?
I can't think of any modern tv that has such a feature built in, as that's mainly needed for CRTs and Projectors.

I don't know, with that last post, it seems it's not the tv doing the funky stuff, but the cable signal.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

I imagine that's a feature in your set-top-box, instead of the actual tv?
I can't think of any modern tv that has such a feature built in, as that's mainly needed for CRTs and Projectors.

The feature I speak of is picture position in the menu for my LN46B630...you can adjust the picture vertically or horizontally to get rid of unwanted noise on certain channels.

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

The feature I speak of is picture position in the menu for my LN46B630...you can adjust the picture vertically or horizontally to get rid of unwanted noise on certain channels.

Oh, I see. I just don't remember ever seeing that feature on the B750. However, I didn't have it for too long.

So, how about the over-the-air signals. You still get it then?

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

Oh, I see. I just don't remember ever seeing that feature on the B750. However, I didn't have it for too long.

So, how about the over-the-air signals. You still get it then?

I'm sorry i'm a little confused what you mean. Do you mean just change my source to TV and just flip through the channels? If so all my over the air channels say "weak or no signal"

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

I'm sorry i'm a little confused what you mean. Do you mean just change my source to TV and just flip through the channels? If so all my over the air channels say "weak or no signal"

Yeah, that's what I was meaning. Lets take CBS for example, which I believe is 1080i. To check if you see the black bars when you see that specific channel in both cable and over-the-air.

Now, if you get the message "weak or no signal", let me just ask: Do you have an antenna connected? Any should work. Because if you have one connected, you should at least get 1 channel. lol. If I can get 22 channels with a cheap antenna, next to a big tree blocking the only window, then there's no reason why you shouldn't get a least 1.

I mean, it doesn't sound like a big deal as you can center the image like you said, but now you have me curious. So far, it think the set-top-box is the #1 suspect.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

Yeah, that's what I was meaning. Lets take CBS for example, which I believe is 1080i. To check if you see the black bars when you see that specific channel in both cable and over-the-air.

Now, if you get the message "weak or no signal", let me just ask: Do you have an antenna connected? Any should work. Because if you have one connected, you should at least get 1 channel. lol. If I can get 22 channels with a cheap antenna, next to a big tree blocking the only window, then there's no reason why you shouldn't get a least 1.

I mean, it doesn't sound like a big deal as you can center the image like you said, but now you have me curious. So far, it think the set-top-box is the #1 suspect.

I'll see if I can locate an antenna and give it a try. By set top box do you mean cable box Odin?

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

By set top box do you mean cable box Odin?

That is correct.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by Odin75

That is correct.

Ok just making sure. Give me a couple days to borrow an antenna. Please come back and check this thread in a couple days. I'll post my finding then. Thanks again Odin.

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

Ok just making sure. Give me a couple days to borrow an antenna. Please come back and check this thread in a couple days. I'll post my finding then. Thanks again Odin.

Np. I just subscribed, so it warns me when you post.

[SDon1969]

Some channels give me a thin, green colored bar on the top side of the screen if my Sammy is set to screen fit, changing it to 16:9 gets rid of it. For me, anyway...I always have it set to 16:9 for TV viewing.

[Hellraiserfan]

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