[Noyb]

I have two flat panel displays, a 19” and a 17”
The measured physical aspect ratio of the display area of these two monitors is the ratio 5:4

I’m currently set to display a 1024 x 768 pixel size - which is the standard aspect ratio of 4:3

Occasionally – it’s obvious that a display of a perfect circle or square – is not displayed as such.

My wife is in favor of this distortion because it makes her look thinner.
I can fix this problem by not taking pictures of her – cause I’d rather have a square or circle to look as such.

What am I doing wrong ??

[kiwiguy]

If these are LCD flat panels, what is their "native resolution" as specified in the manual or associated literature?

1024 x 768 is low res for a 19", mine is 1280 x 1024 (5:4)

LCD should always only be run in native resolution.

[Noyb]

I've always heard, and read, that the monitor displays best at its native resolution - but assumed that meant clarity.
1280:1024 just displays too small to read, or zero the cursor on a tool, so I've been using 1024:768

Never thought to check the ratio of the native LCD display ... with anything other than my ruler and calculator.

I know how to change (increase) most of the size settings in display properties -
but I don't think this covers all the bases ... such as the tool bars in Photoshop ... etc ...

Am I missing a way to increase the size of everything while in the 1280:1024 display mode ?
If not - the wife just will have to stay skinny...

Thanks - That clears me up - except why windows only has one 5:4 display mode.

[erick295]

5:4 is a strange ratio, 4:3 and 16:9 are standard. I'm not sure why LCD's adopted a different one.

There's no way to enlarge everything. But I don't know how you can stand using an LCD at a non-native resolution, I think they look awful that way.

[bearone2]

Originally Posted by Noyb

I've always heard, and read, that the monitor displays best at its native resolution - but assumed that meant clarity.
1280:1024 just displays too small to read, or zero the cursor on a tool, so I've been using 1024:768

Never thought to check the ratio of the native LCD display ... with anything other than my ruler and calculator.

I know how to change (increase) most of the size settings in display properties -
but I don't think this covers all the bases ... such as the tool bars in Photoshop ... etc ...

Am I missing a way to increase the size of everything while in the 1280:1024 display mode ?
If not - the wife just will have to stay skinny...

Thanks - That clears me up - except why windows only has one 5:4 display mode.

rt click on the desktop/properties/settings and it's a slide bar to change resolution.

i make the icons in the quick launch bar and at the top larger and use larger fonts in appearance.

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by bearone2

rt click on the desktop/properties/settings and it's a slide bar to change resolution.
i make the icons in the quick launch bar and at the top larger and use larger fonts in appearance.

Yea - Know how to do all (most) of that ... Playing with my new settings now.
but can't make make everything proportionally "bigger"
For example - I can barely read this reply while typing it ... even with my puter glasses - which I generally don't wear.

Sure does make an improvement in the display .. once I get used to it and find a workaround for the "Too small" problem areas.

[Noyb]

OUCH ..
Just turned on my Media Center - to watch a little TV (news) on the dual monitor ... a 17"
Now there's a whole new set of display problems.
I can only stretch the TV display window to about 3/4 full screen.
In the full screen mode - the picture 4:3 TV aspect ratio is distorted.
I can't use the full screen mode on the second span monitor because it confines the mouse cursor to the second screen only.

[Knotbored]

quote :
For example - I can barely read this reply while typing it ... even with my puter glasses - which I generally don't wear.

To increase the font when online hold down the CTL key and use mouse scroll wheel to alter the size font. Also when using Internet Explorer VIEW/ TEXT SIZE make sure its set at leaste to MEDIUM size.
I also wear glasses and had a heck of a time making text legible when monitor is set to more pixels.

[Noyb]

True - but that changes the setting universally, not just locally, and not in all cases like this one - as illustrated below at the largest text size view.

This display would be smaller - but the screen shot is in my 1024x768 mode and has been cropped.

[bearone2]

Originally Posted by Knotbored

quote :
For example - I can barely read this reply while typing it ... even with my puter glasses - which I generally don't wear.

To increase the font when online hold down the CTL key and use mouse scroll wheel to alter the size font. Also when using Internet Explorer VIEW/ TEXT SIZE make sure its set at leaste to MEDIUM size.
I also wear glasses and had a heck of a time making text legible when monitor is set to more pixels.

BIGGER FONTS AND ICONS

[Noyb]

Thought I'd follow up with my solution to this problem.
Just got a new Samsung 204B monitor... a 20.1"er
The native resolution is 1600x1200 which is the "standard" 4:3 aspect ratio.
This Monitor looks fantastic at the 1024x768 display setting that I like.

I now have a choice of the several 4:3 display ratio settings ..
and, Compared to my old 19" or 17" lcds, everthing now appears as if I was looking at a wide screen on the 204B.
Circles are round & squares are square again - and I guess I'd just got used to looking at a distorted Image since I switched from CRT to 17" & 19" LCDs.

This monitor is setting beside my old 19", in a dual monitor mode, and they are almost the same display & physical height.

The next time I buy a new monitor ... I'll check it's native Aspect ratio first.

[Noyb]

In case anyone is interested … Just another follow up with an attached picture of the difference.

The 20.1” Monitor on the left is a 1600x1200 native resolution.
This is an aspect ratio of 4:3 - which means that the picture is 33% wider, than it is tall.

The 19” monitor on the right is has a native resolution of 1280 x 1024.
This is an aspect ratio of 5:4 - which means that the picture is 25% wider, than it is tall.

Both monitors are being driven from the same computer with a display setting of 1024x768 .. a 4:3 aspect ratio.

A perfect circle is displayed, full screen on both Monitors from the same (4:3) Image file … see the difference ?

I was talking with a computer buddy last night and he was doing some presentations for a local Robotics club.
He was adjusting the presentations for how they look, on his monitor, and was curious why it didn’t print the same way.

I had to tell him … What you see on your LCD Monitor … May not be what you have - or get from the Printer.