Open Matte

Open mat [ əʊpn̩ MAET ] (English " open matte " (literally ), "open label") is an unmasking of the film image for display in 4:3 full-screen format.

The negative image of the format of a 35mm film has an aspect ratio of 4:3 (width to height). For the theatrical presentation items are covered at the top and bottom of the image ( masked), so that the image is projected in the desired movie format. In contrast to the wide screen of a movie theater most TVs have an aspect ratio of 4:3, so that the masked image above and caused a few years ago on a TV black bar below the image. To avoid this, it is possible in certain cases to make the masking reversed and thereby to detect the entire image.

This TV full-screen versions are very popular where DVDs appear next to the movie format often in full-screen format, especially in the United States.

Method

For the masking of the selected image section, two methods exist.

Hard Matting

When Hard Matting the unused portion of the image when copying is black laminated. Copies of the original film roles included by only the image to be shown in theaters.

Soft Matting

The unused portion of the image is not laminated in soft matting. Instead, the projectionist at the cinema has to take over this task. He has to make sure that are not actively used by the cameraman image parts are hidden and are not visible to the moviegoers. Consequently, the Soft Matting more picture material is available in principle than is actually shown on the screen. As the cameraman can usually only incorporated the actual (cinema ) cut in his image design, it happens that in the non- visible part actually necessary for the rotary equipment such as microphones, cables, rails, etc. are visible.

Comparison of methods

Movies that have been copied in the hard- matting process can only be digitized so as they would be seen in the cinema. This is caused as a rule black bars on the screen, but also takes on the manner intended by cameraman images. If in this case a specific image format is desired, there is a possibility the film, to be increased until it completely fills the destination format. In order to be relevant to the plot things in the paintings, the magnified area specifically chosen or possibly moved (Pan & Scan). In this method, however, it is not possible to display the entire original image at a time in the target format.

This shortcoming is eliminated in soft matting. However, the above-mentioned film equipment, which may occur in the additionally present image areas to be considered. In such a case, the overall image can be selectively increased; compared to increase in hardware Matting but gives you more freedom.

During the transfer process, the competent technician can select the desired image in coordination with the cameraman and / or director and selectively change within the film.

Change of artistic expression

If the image is selectively shown or selectively increased or extended even by not actually existing parts ( in the open- mat - case ), so desired by the cameraman image impression is changed. The proportions within the image change; can continue by elements which, although fit into the film image, but would not actually visible, the viewer's attention will be distracted.

• Television Technology
• Moving