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What image capturing format is best using digital video, interlaced or progressive scan? Why?

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What image capturing format is best using digital video, interlaced or progressive scan? Why?

To answer the above question we need to first take a look at the different types of image capturing, with their pros and cons:

Interlaced scanning

What is interlaced scanning?

Interlaced scanned images uses a technique that displays horizontal lines across a standard TV screen. So, how it works is that the interlacing divides these into odd and even lines. Why would this be a good thing? Well, it then alternately refreshes them at 30 frames per second. So, you get a higher refresh rate. However, you also get a slight delay between odd and even lines, and this delay in refreshes creates some distortion or jaggedness. Why? Well because basically what is happening is that only half the lines keep up with the moving image while the other half waits to be refreshed.

There are two dominant interlaced scan systems used in the world today: NTSC and PAL. Let's take a look at these:

  • NTSC is based on a 525-line, 60 fields/30 frames-per-second at 60Hz system. So, in other words, each frame is scanned in two fields of 262 lines, which is then combined to display a frame of video with 525 scan lines.
  • PAL is based on a 625 line, 50 field/25 frames a second, 50HZ system. So, in other words, the signal is interlaced, like NTSC, into two fields, only these fields are composed of 312 lines each. This means you get a better overall picture and better color consistency between stations and TVs.
  • Interlaced scanning has been around for a long time, and is great for television especially for broadcasting. Even though it has been around for a long time, it is still the most suitable type of image capturing for certain applications. However, not all. For example, with new display technology, such as LCD, Thin Film Transistor (TFT)-based monitors, DVDs and digital cameras, it was no longer the best method, at least not for this new display technology. Hence the creation of progressive scan digital video.

Progressive scanning

With progressive scan the image is displayed on a screen by scanning each line in a sequential order rather than an alternate order, as is done with interlaced scan. So basically each image is screened top to bottom, hence the term progressively scanned. So, what does this mean for your picture? Well, by progressively scanning the image onto a screen every 60th of a second rather than interlacing alternate lines every 30th of a second, you get a smoother, more detailed, image, and it is also less susceptible to interlace flicker. So, in other words, you refresh the screen more often.

As larger TV screens are developed, more viewers notice the flicker that happens with interlacing, so to combat this problem, progressive scan came into being. So, to answer the question of what image capturing format is best using digital video, is that using digital video is not the reason, but progressive scan is best because more and more people have LCD, THT, and larger screened televisions, and it produces a better picture. So, when shooting a digital video, if you shoot it in progressive scan, then you do not have to convert it later to make a viewer happy.

Progressive scan produces overall better image quality, but has some down sides, cost being one of them. In certain instances interlaced is still better, and can look better when viewed on the right screen.

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