Monitor: more resolution = more pixelization?

K

klwilbur

Member
I have a Mac G5 2.7 GHz with a Dell Ultrasharp 2405FPW 24" LCD monitor. I set the resolution to 1920 x 1200 which is the highest available.

When I purchased this monitor to edit video in FCP, I knew it wouldn't perfectly match the color of a normal TV, but I still thought I could do some decent video editing. However, I seem to have a problem with resolution.

Simply put, video on my 24" LCD has pixelization. The same video on my 65" rear projection TV which clearly has less resolution has no pixelization.

Just to clarify the pixelization problem...imagine you are looking at a picture of trees. On the 65" television, you seem smooth action of the leaves blowing in the wind. On the 24" LCD monitor, when the leaves move, it kind of looks like they are moving behind a stained glass window or a frosted shower door. Although the still picture is stunning, small movements in complicated color patterns create this effect.

I'm having a problem understanding why more resolution seems to equal more pixelization.

Do I have a setting wrong or is there some logic that I don't understand?

Thanks in advance for any light you guys can shine on the subject.

Thanks,

Kelly
 
Your TV is either 1) standard definition (720x480) or 2) is upsampling the image to HD before display. When you view the footage on your monitor you get the 720x480 without any manipulation.
 
Thanks Shaw for your response. However, it doesn't make anything more clear to me.

Why would a 720x480 image on a 720x480 SD television look worse than a 720x480 image on a 1920x1200?

I wouldn't expect the higher resolution monitor to have a better picture because it would be limited by the image quality. However, I still don't understand why the higher resolution monitor would look WORSE.

Thanks,

Kelly
 
you're seeing the different between square pixels and rectangular pixels. The television interprets the image differently, i'm not sure if there is a thread around here but i'd say search these forums for "rectangular pixels" and you'll get a better explanation than this one.

To help you get less confused in the future, a "monitor" is the "television" next to your editing system which you immediately playback the video on.. your "computer monitor" is what you're referring to. Its easy to mix up these terms.
 
Are you using Digital Cinema Desktop?

I have hear that that can cause pixelation of an image. I don't use it though, so I am guessing. Anyone else know?
 
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