Adam Lenhardt
Senior HTF Member
PowerDVD tends to export the screen captures in rectangular pixels. Some programs can accomidate this (Photoshop, for example) Others can't, like Microsoft Paint, giving you the 720x480 source image, which features a ratio of 1.50:1. When doing capping for my own reviews with PowerDVD (see sig for recent examples), I always resize the caps to 720x405 on anamorphic titles to regain the 16x9 proper shape, then crop away overscan bars from that. Hope that's informative as to the possible squeeze problem.
P.S. A great site, very informative service. I will be sure to consult it on titles where there is more than one version. I noticed the Region 1 releases tend to have better color fidelity over their comparative releases. Truman Show is a clear example of a better looking transfer, despite the fact the Region 1 is non-anamorphic and the other release is anamorphic.
As for Criterion releases vs. other releases, they seem to be of a lower bitrate, but have better color fidelity and respect composition more. Sparticus is a clear example of this (Perhaps because of RAH's involvement in their release?) However I tend to favor the competition for black and white releases, were the bitrate has a much more noticable effect.
P.S. A great site, very informative service. I will be sure to consult it on titles where there is more than one version. I noticed the Region 1 releases tend to have better color fidelity over their comparative releases. Truman Show is a clear example of a better looking transfer, despite the fact the Region 1 is non-anamorphic and the other release is anamorphic.
As for Criterion releases vs. other releases, they seem to be of a lower bitrate, but have better color fidelity and respect composition more. Sparticus is a clear example of this (Perhaps because of RAH's involvement in their release?) However I tend to favor the competition for black and white releases, were the bitrate has a much more noticable effect.