User:It writer/396i

Understand
396i is a standard-definition widescreen video mode used in PAL and SECAM systems. Although it is still used quite frequently, this mode is seldom referred by its name.

396 identifies the vertical resolution of 396 lines. The i stands for interlaced mode. The field rate is sometimes also included when identifying the video mode. In 50 Hz systems it is 396i50.

DVD movies
396i is the video mode applied for widescreen DVD movies with an aspect ratios of 16:9. This mode is the widescreen equalent of 576i used for 4:3 DVDs.

The horizontal resolution in digital systems may vary, the only requirement is to fulfill the sampling theorem. Conventional systems provide 704 or 720 pixels. Thus commercial DVD quality video cameras generally have a resolution of 704×576, i.e. 576i (when aspect ratio 4:3 is still supported) or most frequently 704×396, i.e. 396i in interlaced mode for widescreen DVD Video.

Consumer televisions
Modern TVs are all capable to display 396i video.

HD Ready televisions with Wide XGA resolution (1366x768) provide an aspect ratio of 1.78 (16:9) which is the same as that of 396i.

Computer monitors
396i requires 704×396 resolution, possible to display with SVGA, i.e. 800×600, or higher resolution with letterboxing, scaling, or windowboxing. Modern monitors have generally much higher resolutions, thereby allowing 396i playback. When playing on non-wide monitors with an aspect ratio of 4:3, including XGA, XGA+, SXGA+, UXGA, and QXGA, 396i videos don't fit the whole screen, resulting in a 12.5-13,3% black stripe above and below the video. Widescreen computer monitors and LCD displays with an aspect ratio of 1.6 (16:10), the screen surface is higher than that of 16:9 monitors, causing a 5% high black stripe above and below the video.

Comparison with other video modes
The successor of standard-definition video modes 396i and 576i are all widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16:9: 720p (1280×720), 1080i (1920×1080), and 1080p (1920×1080). Considering that the first and the last ones are progressive modes, 1080i is the high definition equivalent of standard-definition mode 396i.