The "Vertical Squeeze Trick"

How To Get
16x9 Anamorphic Resolution
On A 4x3 Television Set

If you view Anamorphic DVDs on a standard 4x3 television set, the DVD player normally converts every 4 horizontal lines of the picture into 3 lines, reducing resolution by 25%. However, on most television sets you can still get that extra resolution with a technique known as "The Vertical Squeeze Trick".   This page is the world's easiest guide to doing the Vertical Squeeze Trick.

However, you should be aware of the disadvantages before you get started:

• It doesn't work for all television sets. In some cases, it works but distorts the picture slightly, and you'll just have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.
• In many cases there are lines above or below the picture, which may be distracting.
• All non-anamorphic content will be stretched wide. That includes menus. To view non-anamorphic content unstretched, you'll have to switch back to normal mode.
• Switching back and forth is cumbersome.
• The smaller your television, the less it will be able to show the improvement. Below 27" or so the improvement may be subtle. On some smaller televisions, you may be unable to detect the difference.

Here's how to do it:

• Find out how to get into your television's Service Mode. See the How To Adjust A TV FAQ.

Note, the normal way to exit Service Mode is to turn your television off and back on.

If the instructions at the How To Adjust A TV FAQ don't get you into the Service Mode on your television, I don't know how either. However, let me know what model you have and I'll post it here in a list. Also, if you found a way to get into Service Mode on a television for which it isn't documented at the FAQ, let me know and I'll put that information in a list, too.

• Once in Service Mode, take the time to write down ALL the settings. It's too easy to accidentally change a setting, and there is no "Undo" command. Changes are applied the instant you make the change. In most cases there is no way to set them all back to default. If you accidentally make a change that adversely affects the picture, and you don't know what you changed, you may have to pay for a service call.

• Find out which of the settings in Service Mode is the Height, or Vertical Gain.

It might not be called Height or Vertical Gain. If you're not sure which setting is Height, try my list of exceptions.

If it isn't in the list and you're still not sure, no problem. Just start going through all the settings, changing them by 5 or 10 or so increments (and then changing them back, of course) until you find the one that changes the vertical height. Be sure to write down all the settings before you try this.

Note, not all of the settings that change the vertical height are necessarily the Height setting. If you find one that changes the vertical height but can't reduce it by at least 25%, it probably isn't actually the Height setting. Just change that setting back to its default and move on to try the others.

• Get some Post-It notes or non-transparent tape.

• Start an anamorphic DVD, and pause it on a fairly bright scene.

Note, most anamorphic DVDs say something like "Enhanced for widescreen" on the back. If you're not sure, check the list of anamorphic DVDs at Image's Anamorphic DVD page.

• Mark the actual picture area on the screen with the Post-It notes or tape.

• Go into your DVD's menu and find the setting where you tell it that you have a 4x3 television, and change it to 16x9. On my DVD player, that means changing the "Aspect" setting from "Letterbox" to "Wide". Consult your DVD player's manual if you're not sure.

The picture will appear tall and skinny.

• Go into your television's Service Mode, and reduce the Height until the picture is the same height as before.

You might not be able to get the Height to be exactly the same; that's okay. Just get it as close as it will go.

It might not be at the exact same vertical position as before; that's okay too.

Again, the normal way to exit Service Mode is to turn your television off and back on.

• All done. You're now viewing the DVD at the same resolution you would on a 16x9 wide television of the same horizontal width (which would have a smaller diagonal measurement, of course).

Again, all non-anamorphic content will be stretched wide. That includes menus.

You may want to write down the exact steps for easy reference so you can always make the change quickly and easily.

• To view non-anamorphic content, or to view non-anamorphic DVDs, change the settings back to normal on your DVD player and television.

• If there are distortions in the picture, see Additional Steps below.

• If I've missed anything you'd like to see here, let me know.

Service Mode Exceptions

The How To Adjust A TV FAQ doesn't show how to get into the Service Mode of all television sets. Here's where I'll keep a list of exceptions. If you know more, let me know.

Height Exceptions

Once you're in Service Mode, the setting you're looking for is Height or Vertical Gain. However, it isn't always called that. Here's where I'll keep a list of exceptions. If you know of more, let me know.

• Toshiba
  • The Height is called HIT.

Additional Steps

You may find that reducing the Height causes distortions in the picture. In some cases, it may not be possible to correct them, and you'll just have to decide for yourself whether it's worth it. In other cases, other adjustments can be made that improve the picture. Here's where I'll keep a list of known adjustments. If you know of more, let me know.

• Toshiba
  • Horizontal lines are bowed (or whatever the opposite of pincushion is called). To fix it, change the DPC setting.
    • On the CN27H95, try setting it to OAH.

Copyright ©1999 by Greg Lovern. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means -- graphic, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author.