Widescreen monitor question

[JennyS]

I'm thinking of getting a 'widescreen' monitor that will be mainly used for photo-editing but I've a couple of questions before I go buying that I hope someone can answer for me:

1. On a 22" widescreen monitor (Max Resolution 1680 x 1050) will square images still display as square or will they appear slightly rectangular?

2. Can I set up the monitor so there won't be a black band at top and bottom?

Explanation and/or clarification would be very appreciated as I'm a bit technically challenged!

[pressld2]

Hi Jenny,

Originally Posted by JennyS

1. On a 22" widescreen monitor (Max Resolution 1680 x 1050) will square images still display as square or will they appear slightly rectangular?

The only places where you might see some distortion is your desktop wallpaper and in the "My Pictures Slideshow" screensaver. Both of these can be configured to stretch images to fit the screen and if you do that then you will see a bit of distortion. The trick is to only use images that are the same shape as the screen - with a width that is 1.6 times the height. Any software that you run will look the same as it did on your traditional, non-widescreen monitor so in any image editing software that you use all images will display exactly the same shape as they always have.

Originally Posted by JennyS

2. Can I set up the monitor so there won't be a black band at top and bottom?

If you've picked a wallpaper image that is the same shape as the widescreen then you won't get any black bands. And if you maximise a program window it too will fill the screen with no bands.

Dave P.

[gleditsa]

hi Jenny,
i would agree with Pressld2's views entirely,
i've been using a 24" monitor for about a year now,and its much better all round,plus its a lot easier in the old eyes,(even my 19" one seems miniscule at the side of this one
even if you use your own photo's as a desktop wallpaper and stretch them to fit they dont seem to be to much out of proportion,

[JennyS]

Thanks for the replies folks - maximising programs will sort the black band problem very simply!

As to distortion I'm not bothered about wallpaper as thats easily sized to fit......and a friend has just explained some basics as regards how ratio and screen resolution affect proportions and the light has finally dawned! (About time too methinks )

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by gleditsa

even my 19" one seems miniscule at the side of this one

I remember the first IT room we got with 15" monitors as opposed to 14". It felt like you could fall right into them, they were so big.