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A windowboxed image (16:9 to 4:3 to 16:9)

Windowboxing (also called the "postage stamp effect") occurs when the aspect ratio of a film is such that the letterbox effect and pillarbox effect occur simultaneously^[1][2][3]. Sometimes, by accident or design, a standard ratio image is presented in the central portion of a letterbox picture, resulting in a black border all around. It is generally disliked because it wastes a lot of screen space and reduces the resolution of the original image. It can occur when a 16:9 film is set to 4:3 (letterbox), but then shown on a 16:9 TV or other output device. It can also occur in the opposite direction (4:3 to 16:9 to 4:3). Few films have been released with this aspect ratio -- one example is The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, which had numerous scenes of widescreen pillar boxing.

Some have suggested that selecting different aspect options by "zooming" could correct the windowbox problem^[4].

A 4:3 ad played in a 16:9 program which is broadcast in 4:3 on a 16:9 television.

On rare occasion, a picture will be windowboxed on purpose. During the opening, documentary-style sequence of Rent, the picture is letterboxed to suggest an older camera meant to present at a 4:3 aspect ratio; as the movie transitions from that segment, it then grows from windowboxed to full widescreen (or letterboxed on a 4:3 display).

Windowboxing can also be considered preferable in the instance of the academy standard ratio of 1.37:1, as evidenced in recent DVD releases of older films shot in this standard. It is often argued that windowboxing of this ratio is unnecessary due to the negligible image loss. Some argue that the prevalence of credit sequences being windowboxed to preserve an even border image on recent DVDs suggests a natural progression towards the full presentation being windowboxed, just as widescreen presentations progressed. This argument is further supported when examining film negative against 4:3 presentation. If 4:3 = 1.33:1, then visual information, however negligible, is lost.

With the advent of 16:9 monitors, windowboxing does decrease screen resolution, just as non-anamorphic widescreen presentations were on 4:3 monitors. However, full picture information is presented.

1. ^ http://www.jeremymoore.com/AdobePremiere/PAR_Displays/
2. ^ http://www.theperfectvision.com/articles/glossary/w.html
3. ^ http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/hometheater/glossary/glossaryw.php
4. ^ http://archive2.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=682904

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