HDTV for photoediting?

[Joerg Rockenberger]

That may sound whacky but is anyone using/considering their HDTV for photoediting?

Thanks, JR

[Don Kates]

I'm not sure editing on an HDTV would work well. I build lots of video/slideshows using Final Cut Pro with a 37" HDTV for previewing the video and an Apple cinema display for photo editing. I will use the HDTV for editing if i'm only going to use the photos for future display on a TV. The problem is that the pixels on a TV are rectangular vs those on a computer monitor which are square. So, images prepared for display on TV monitors have to take this into account.

[Tim Dodd]

The problem is that the pixels on a TV are rectangular vs those on a computer monitor which are square. So, images prepared for display on TV monitors have to take this into account.

My Sony 40X2000 HDTV has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is a ratio of 16:9 or 1.78. The dimensions of the physical display area are (as near as makes no odds) 35" x 19.75". That's a ratio of 1.77.

Allowing for the probability that my measurement was not exactly mm perfect - I know it wasn't - I reckon my pixels are perfectly square. The TV makes a fabulous monitor and is fantastic for displaying my photos at their best. That said, I actually perform my editing on my calibrated laptop and use the PC/TV primarily as a media centre and a backup server.

Maybe some plasma TVs have screwball pixels but I would have thought that LCD HDTV screens all have square pixels. Apart from 1920 x1080 resolutions the only other common LCD HDTV resolution I am familiar with is 1366 x 768, which also happens to be a 16:9 or 1.78 ratio. They should also have square pixels, should they not?

[Don Kates]

I've gone through several training programs for Final Cut Pro (the king of video editing programs) and every one starts with a discussion of square (computer monitors) vs non-square pixels (TV). 16:9 or 4:3 doesn't matter. they all have rectangular pixels. Photoshop allows you to prepare images with this in mind (view--pixel aspect ratio) where you can choose to convert to rectangular pixels for HDTV. For example, if you draw a circle in PS, go to view --- pixel aspect ratio and choose the appropriate device, you'll see that the circle has now changed it's shape. when viewed on a TV, it will look like a circle again. Also, TV monitors don't display higher than 72ppi.

[Tim Dodd]

I've gone through several training programs for Final Cut Pro (the king of video editing programs) and every one starts with a discussion of square (computer monitors) vs non-square pixels (TV). 16:9 or 4:3 doesn't matter. they all have rectangular pixels. Photoshop allows you to prepare images with this in mind (view--pixel aspect ratio) where you can choose to convert to rectangular pixels for HDTV. For example, if you draw a circle in PS, go to view --- pixel aspect ratio and choose the appropriate device, you'll see that the circle has now changed it's shape. when viewed on a TV, it will look like a circle again. Also, TV monitors don't display higher than 72ppi.

Well since my TV has 1920 pixels across its 35" wide display that makes 55 pixels per inch. Vertically I have 1080 pixels displayed within 19.75" which equates to 55 pixels per inch. It seems to me that the pixels on my TV are 1/55" x 1/55". That seems pretty square to me.

It doesn't really matter what the Final Cut Pro tutorials say. They appear to be ignoring the facts of modern day TV design. Why, when everyone knows that HD comes in 1080i/p and 720p flavours, is it that smaller HDTVs have 1366 x 768 pixels instead of (with a very few exceptions) 1280 x 720? It's because modern day displays are great big PC monitors with a tuner and speakers built in. How old are those FCP tutorials?

As for the 72 DPI thing, well OK, my TV is only 55 DPI, but viewing it as I do from a distance of approx 9' it has a perceived higher pixel density than my 17" 1920 x 1200 laptop display. In fact the TV screen appears to be only half the size of my laptop screen due to the perspective, leading the TV screen to have a perceived linear pixel density twice that of my laptop, which itself is 132 DPI.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Uhoh. Square vs reactangular pixels? I had hoped it to be as easy as plugging it in and using it as a second monitor. But then if it were easy...

Tim, how do you connect to your HDTV? HDMI? I you were to purchase a new computer what would you watch out for?

Thanks, JR

[Tim Dodd]

John, please take a look at this thread - http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=23560. The only clarification I'd like to add to that thread is that my PC does not have an HDMI output. It has DVI output for video only. Audio is carried by a separate digital connection to my surround sound amp. It is simple enough to connect DVI from the PC to HDMI on the TV. You just need a cheap DVI ->HDMI lead that can be purchased on eBay. If you get a PC with HDMI output built in then that should carry both video and audio over the same cable, straight to your TV or digital AV amplifier, if you have one of those.

Here's an illustration of how tiny my 40" TV looks compared to my 17" laptop from my usual position on the couch....



If you have any further questions please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer.

Cheers,
Tim.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thanks Tim for the info, pic and link to the previous thread. I guess I'll try it once I have my new laptop.

Best, JR