I'm would prefer not to stretch 4:3 pictures. I know burn-in is rare on DLP, but is it better to use black or gray bars? Does it matter?

Also, I was wondering when DLPs process the color black, does it mix all the colors of the color wheel or just simply switches the mirror to an off position? My wife and I (both engineers) got into an debate over this while watching an HD black and white film.

I'm would prefer not to stretch 4:3 pictures. I know burn-in is rare on DLP, but is it better to use black or gray bars? Does it matter?

Also, I was wondering when DLPs process the color black, does it mix all the colors of the color wheel or just simply switches the mirror to an off position? My wife and I (both engineers) got into an debate over this while watching an HD black and white film.


Burn in is NON-existent on DLP sets so go ahead and use he black bars.

DLP sets display black by leaving the mirrors in the off position.

I am unable to answer your second question (and it's an interesting one). My guess is all colors mixed. Before I had my TV ISF-calibrated last year, the blacks were a little bit more gray than the side bars; now, the black levels of the picture blend perfectly with the side bars.

As for the first question, I've had a Toshiba 52hm84 720p DLP for a little over 4 years, and I, too, prefer 4:3 shows to be shown in 4:3 (not stretched). I've kept the side bars black, and have never had any problems with burn-in or image retention of any type (nor should there be with the technology employed). With 2 kids in the house under 4 y.o. (wouldn't Sesame Street in HD be awesome?), our proportion of 4:3 to 16:9 on that TV runs about 75%/25% in favor of 4:3.

From what I understand about RGB color - mixing all the colors would result in white, not black.
A color in the RGB color model can be described by indicating how much of each of the red, green, and blue is included. Each can vary between the minimum (fully dark) and maximum (full intensity). If all the colors are at minimum the result is black. If all the colors at maximum, the result is a white.

http://www.answers.com/topic/rgb?cat=technology