Why do screen pics have to be rectangular?

[IronWing]

Seems silly and arbitrary to require pics to be rectangular. Yes, we can make pics appear to be other shapes by making regions transparent but why not make those regions not be there in the first place? The extra storage space required to define an irregular canvas ain't that much.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

because, stop thinking.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's easier to store and process stuff in a system of x/y coordinates.

 

[Jaepheth]

It's easier to store and process stuff in a system of x/y coordinates.

This.

It's a result of the underlying data structure which boils down to a matrix

the extra memory and processing power costs required to mathematically define and handle a non-rectangular shape would far outweigh any benefits.

 

[irishScott]

This.

It's a result of the underlying data structure which boils down to a matrix

the extra memory and processing power costs required to mathematically define and handle a non-rectangular shape would far outweigh any benefits.

This. Plus from a physical standpoint it's the most efficient use of space for delivering consistent information. You can stack rectangles in neat rows and columns. Any stacked round shape is going to have a lot of wasted blank space, and any other geometric shape is going to be at best on par with the rectangle in terms of surface area but will still be harder to make/arrange.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Square pixel + curved edge = aliasing.

 

[Gunslinger08]

This.

It's a result of the underlying data structure which boils down to a matrix

the extra memory and processing power costs required to mathematically define and handle a non-rectangular shape would far outweigh any benefits.

x/y does seem considerably more performant than radians and distance from center for something like a circular display. Thinking of CSS for a circular display makes my head hurt.

 

[dullard]

http://www.slashgear.com/sharp-free-form-display-tech-could-deliver-a-round-iwatch-18334168/

 

[DrPizza]

You could use polar coordinates - it takes the same amount of information per data point. However, the pixels wouldn't all be the same size.

 

[Jeff7]

Engineers like things to be right angles. 😛

 

[Humpy]

What the hell is a screen pic?

 

[ElFenix]

i tried to make a round one

 

[Mixolydian]

Because pixels

 

[Lonyo]

Displays are most efficient if rectangular, or some other tessellating pattern, but rectangles are most efficient for dividing up.
So displays end up as rectangles. So images for those displays are rectangles.
A few bits here or there on an image isn't particularly meaningful anymore.

 

[sdifox]

Parce que tu est rectangulaire :awe:

 

[Anubis]

because the human eye sees in a rectangular aspect ratio

 

[BarkingGhostar]

because the human eye sees in a rectangular aspect ratio

Not top mention that the human vision system in terms of the retina is much less sensitive to horizontal resolution than vertical and why compression or extrapolation of data takes place more on that axis than the other.

We happily anamorphic material because of this human condition. But if the OP wants to change it then turn the capture device sideways and get on with life.

 

[mrjminer]

Rectangles are obviously the best shape. You are a fool to think otherwise.

 

[gorcorps]

well... that's it

the internet has run out of things to complain about now that somebody takes issue with what geometrical shape pictures are displayed in