Does HD-DVD or Blu-Ray allow for more colors in subtitles?

[KrisGranholm]

Standard definition DVDs can only display subtitles in two colors onscreen at one time. The limit coming from the 4 color limit in the DVD karaoke specification; transparent for the background, black for the outline and two colors left over to fill the text.

Has this been fixed with the next gen DVD formats?

[Skywise]

Yes. You can do proper 8-bit bitmaps, or you can just use text and a font. So far they seem to mostly be sticking with the bitmaps, but the other option is there as well. I expect we'll see more creative use of the text rendering engines later as they get more familiar with the authoring process and what kind of possibilities they provide.

[AUSTIN316]

I just can't wait till I can finally start buying BR titles and then I will be able to see the subs. I sure hope that day comes soon, anime companies are being very cautious about jumping into HD formats, much more so than DVD back in the day. I guess the thing about that is that hopefully it means they will do it right when it finally happens.

[Skywise]

Anime companies are holding back not only because of the format war and little to no profit, but because the production and authoring costs are exceedingly high. They'd be lucky if they actually managed to sell enough copies of a title to actually break even at this point.

[GyroidFanatic]

Also the president of Bandai noted that US and Japan are in the same regions for HD stuff, so there's even more concern from the Japanese companies about importation (to Japan).

[JeffDM]

Also the president of Bandai noted that US and Japan are in the same regions for HD stuff, so there's even more concern from the Japanese companies about importation (to Japan).

They might say that, but I hope for their sake that they don't actually believe that region coding actually does anything, because it really doesn't.

[raistlinmajere]

They might say that, but I hope for their sake that they don't actually believe that region coding actually does anything, because it really doesn't.

Rather than realize that, I'd rather them realize that their prices are ripoffs.

[Njr Scrawl]

Say if each US licensee had a title or 2 for release on next gen, which do you think would use most HD/BR increased scope available to give the best improved-over-SD quality product, in terms of presentation, features & options?

[raistlinmajere]

We'd have to see source material to make that call.

[JeffDM]

They might say that, but I hope for their sake that they don't actually believe that region coding actually does anything, because it really doesn't.

Rather than realize that, I'd rather them realize that their prices are ripoffs.

Ripoffs to us, but the I don't think their market is that comparable.