Editing Pan and scan (section)

==Techniques==
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During the pan and scan process, an editor selects the parts of the original filmed composition that appear to be the focus of the shot and ensures that these are copied ("scanned"). When the important action shifts to a new position in the frame, the operator moves the scanner to follow it, creating the effect of [[Panning (camera)|Panning]]. In a scene where the focus does not gradually shift from one horizontal position to another, such as actors at each extreme engaging in rapid conversation, the editor may choose to "cut" from one to the other, rather than rapidly panning back and forth.

If the actors are closer together on the screen, the editor may pan slightly, alternately cropping one or the other partially. This method preserves the maximum resolution of the image since it uses all the available vertical video scan lines, which is especially important for [[NTSC]] televisions, having fewer lines than other standards. It also gives a full-screen image on a traditional television set; hence pan-and-scan versions of films on [[VHS]] or [[DVD]] are often known as ''[[Fullscreen (aspect ratio)|Fullscreen]]''.

However, this method also has several drawbacks. Some visual information is unavoidably cropped out. It can also change a shot in which the camera was originally stationary to one in which it is frequently panning or change a single continuous shot into one with frequent cuts. In a shot that was originally panned to show something new, or in which something enters the shot from off-camera, it changes the timing of these appearances for the audience.

For example, in the film ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'', made in [[Panavision]], the criminal [[Bill Sikes]] commits a murder. The murder takes place mostly offscreen, behind a staircase wall, and Oliver is a witness. As Sikes steps back from behind the wall, the audience sees Oliver from the back watching him in terror. In the pan and scan version of the film, the audience sees Oliver's reaction as the murder is being committed, but not when Sikes steps backward from the wall having done it. Often in a pan and scan telecast, a character will seem to be speaking offscreen, because the pan and scan technique has cut their image out of the screen.

===Shoot and protect===
{{Main|Shoot and protect}}
As television screenings of feature films became more common and financially important, cinematographers began to work on compositions that would keep the vital information within the ''TV-safe area'' of the frame. For example, the [[BBC]] suggested programme makers who were recording in 16:9 frame their shots in a [[14:9]] aspect ratio which was then broadcast on analogue services with small black bars at the top and bottom of the picture. Owners of widescreen TV sets receiving digital broadcasts would see the full 16:9 picture (this is known as [[Shoot and protect]]).

===Reframing===
One modern alternative to pan and scan is to adjust the source material directly. This is very rare; the only known uses are in [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] features, such as those produced by [[Pixar]], and video games such as ''[[BioShock]]''.

This approach to full-screen versions is sometimes called ''[[Reframing (filmmaking)|reframing]]'': some shots are pan and scan, while others (notably [[Warner Bros.]]' ''[[The Lego Movie]]'') are transferred [[open matte]] (a full widescreen image extended with the added image above and below).

Another method is to keep the camera angle as tight as a pan shot, but move the location of characters, objects, or the camera so that the subjects fit in the frame. The advent of DVDs and their use of [[anamorphic widescreen|anamorphic]] presentation, coupled with the increasing popularity of widescreen televisions and computer monitors, has rendered pan and scan less important. Full screen versions of films originally produced in widescreen are still available in the [[United States]].

===Open matte===
Filmmakers may also create an original image that includes visual information that extends above and below the widescreen theatrical image; this is known as an [[open matte]] image. This may still be considered pan-and-scanned, but it gives the [[Compositor (filmmaking)|compositor]] the freedom to "zoom out" or "un-crop" the image to include not only the full width of the wide-format image but also additional visual content at the top and/or bottom of the screen, not included in the widescreen version.

As a general rule (before the adoption of DVD), special effects would be done within the theatrical aspect ratio, but not the full frame thereof.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-03 |title=Aspect-Ratio Fascism – Hollywood Elsewhere |url=https://hollywood-elsewhere.com/aspect-ratio-fa/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> The expanded image area can sometimes include extraneous objects—such as cables, microphone booms, jet vapor trails, or overhead telephone wires—not intended to be included in the frame, depending upon the nature of the shot and how well the full frame was protected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pg/BuffyHD/photos/?tab=album&album_id=686964804739144|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer HD / Blu-ray|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-16}}</ref>

A more unusual use of the technique is present in the [[List of Dragon Ball films|17 original]] ''[[Dragon Ball (TV series)|Dragon Ball]]'' movies, released from 1986 to 1996. The films were displayed in 1.85:1 during their theatrical release, but this was cut down from 1.37:1 animation, a choice made so that the VHS releases would be nearly uncropped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kanzenshuu.com/movie/dbz-05/|title=Movie Guide - Dragon Ball Z Movie 05|website=kanzenshuu.com}}</ref>

===Adjusting cinematography to account for aspect ratios===
Changes in screen angle (panning) may be necessary to prevent closeups between two speakers where only one person is visible in the pan and scan version and both participants seem to speak alternately to persons off-camera; this comes at the cost of losing the smoothness of scenes. Conversely, the cropping of a film originally shown in the standard ratio to fit widescreen televisions may cut off foreground or background, such as a [[tap-dance]] scene in which much attention is directed appropriately at a dancer's feet. This situation commonly occurs when a widescreen TV is set to display full images without stretching (often called the zoom setting) for content with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 or less. The solution is to [[pillar box (film)|pillar box]] the image by adding black bars on either side of the image, which maintains the full picture height. In Europe, where the [[PAL]] TV format offers more resolution, pan and scan broadcasts and movie DVDs originally shown in widescreen are relatively rare, unless it is programming broadcasts aimed at family viewing times like ''[[A Bug's Life]]''. However, on some channels in some countries (such as the [[United Kingdom]]), films with an aspect ratio of more than 1.85:1 are panned and scanned slightly to fit the broadcast 1.78:1 ratio.