How does a native SVGA (800x600) create a max UXGA (1600x1200) 1080p image? (1 Viewer)

[RoboBloodMonkey]

I'm currently looking into purchasing my first projector. I've spent the past couple days researching and learning as much as i can, but I have a couple of questions. My understanding is that native resolution means the actual physical number of pixels. So if a projector spec sheets lists its native resolution as "SVGA (800x600)" and it's max resolution as "UXGA (1600 x 1200), 1080p", how does it achieve this? From what i have read it sounds like the larger max resolution is just a stretched image, and that to create the HD 16:9 aspect ratio it cuts off part of the top and bottom of the image. So how does it create a 1080p image from a 800x600 physical source? Is it not a true 1080p image? The actual projector i'm looking at is an Optoma GT360. It's spec sheet can be found here:


http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-GT360-Projector-Great-PlayStation/dp/B003B4DFH2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299783725&sr=8-1


My second question is when part of the image is cut off the top and bottom to change a 4:3 aspect ratio to a 16:9, is some light still projected to that cut off area?

 

[Adam Gregorich]

Welcome to Home Theater Forum Marcus. Congratulations on a pending projector purchase. Its a lot of fun to put movies and games on your own big screen.

I looked through the projector specs at both Amazon and on Optomas website and I agree that it is a bit confusing. Here is what it actually means:


Native Resolution 800x600: This is the actual resolution of the projector. It is going to take what ever you input and convert it to this resolution.


Max Resolution: This is the highest resolution it can accept via the inputs. If you feed it a 1080P signal, it is going to downconvert it to 800x600 which is not a true 1080P image (which would be 1920x1080). If you feed it a 480i signal it will upconvert it to 800x600.


Usually displays will take an input that is a different resolution and just scale it to the native resolution, so you will get a less detailed picture, but is should have the same aspect ratio.