Audio/Video Glossary

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Picture Sharpness

Audio/Video Glossary - Picture SharpnessThe quantity of fine details in a video picture. A picture appears sharp when it contains fine details, extended micro-contrast (the distinction between fine details and the surrounding background) and sharp, thin edges. Picture sharpness is easily lost during the recording process and, to a lesser extent, during playback*. Advanced video enhancement equipment is used to improve picture sharpness, especially micro-contrast. Potential losses, which might damage an image during video processing, are automatically pre-compensated. Although picture sharpness is a subjective factor, it is technically measurable as the ratio between high frequency signals (about 2 MHz) and low frequency signals. In the digital domain, the apparent picture sharpness corresponds exactly to that of the source signal, and if affected, it is usually due to the monitor's ability to resolve picture details.