# Is This What "Overscan" Is (DVD Question) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792 "2010-10-11T15:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792/1 "2010-10-11T15:03:32Z")
I have a set of _Kate & Allie_ DVDs, when I watch it on the TV, it plays fine. But when I watch the DVDs on a computer (My laptop or desktop, it’s the same), I notice at the bottom there is a line about 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch that is just moves back and forth. Is the term for this overscan? I was trying to encode the DVDs so I could watch them on my computer without the DVDs and the lines come out in the encode. So I figured before I go about trying to remedy this, I would first ask if this is the correct term, so when I Google around I’m searching for the correct term. If this isn’t the correct term, what would you call this? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792/2 "2010-10-11T17:16:22Z")
Yes, that’s the correct term. Traditionally, TVs did not show 100% of the NTSC frame. The pixels outside of this “safe area” was the [overscan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overscan). Of course, digital monitors can show 100% of the frame, which is why you are seeing the junk at the bottom. You often times will see timecode in 100% frame video. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792/3 "2010-10-11T18:03:16Z")
Thanks at least I know what I’m looking for now. If anyone has some links on how to encode a video and correct for this (I use Handbrake) I’d appreciate it. I already am going to ask at the Handbrake forums. Thanks again for the info ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792/4 "2010-10-11T19:05:08Z")
In Handbrake, you can go into “Picture Settings” and choose a custom crop to get rid of the overscan area. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-overscan-is-dvd-question/556792/5 "2010-10-11T19:06:33Z")
Yes you are right, most TV actually have a secret service menu you can get to with the right combo of buttons on the remote, I got into this menu to adjust the overscan on my HDTV (The last CRT Sony made, at the time it was the BEST you could possible get, CRTs are actually a tad better than newer tech but they are so damn big and heavy) Typical overscan is like 10% I think? I have a test pattern if you want to look up, along with shots of bad overscan issues [![](https://media.photobucket.com/image/overscan%20picture/ghost_in_a_shell/1920x1080_overscan2.png) ](https://media.photobucket.com/image/overscan%20picture/ghost_in_a_shell/1920x1080_overscan2.png) [![](https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c179/chrisbooth12/P3250052.jpg) ](https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c179/chrisbooth12/P3250052.jpg) What I hate is how many sports programs put the score board on the 1 pixel at the border, making some older TV cut it off although they have got better with that