What does Pan and Scan mean?
Pan and Scan refers to a method used in filmmaking and video production to convert widescreen content to fit a standard television screen. It involves cropping and zooming in on specific parts of the frame to ensure that important elements remain visible on a 4:3 aspect ratio TV. Pan and scan was widely used before widescreen TVs became popular, but it often resulted in loss of visual information and awkward framing. The technique allows viewers to see the most important parts of a scene but sacrifices the director”s original widescreen composition.
Example:A film originally shot in widescreen was converted using pan and scan for television, resulting in some characters being cropped out of the frame.
Example: Pan and scan was used to adapt a widescreen action sequence for home video, focusing only on the central part of the image and cutting off the background details.
Did You Know?
With the rise of widescreen TVs, pan and scan has become less common, as viewers can now watch films in their original aspect ratios without cropping!
