Help with 1:1 monitor (1920x1920)

Gobojoe1

I have a RPi 3B+ r1.3 running Retropie v4.6. I received an square medical monitor which fit nicely in the cabinet but I am having difficulty with the 1:1 aspect ratio. Connected via HDMI->DVI input, I am unable to nicely depict a circle :)
I have tried to work with config.txt but there is no support for the 1:1 aspect ratio.
Any help would be appreciated.

Ashpool

@gobojoe1 said in Help with 1:1 monitor (1920x1920):

I have tried to work with config.txt but there is no support for the 1:1 aspect ratio.

Well, one of the no one thought about cases? In your config.txt video options trials, have you tried to set a custom mode (According to the description of the linked doc-page, only the first three are mandatory)?

hdmi_cvt=<width> <height> <framerate> <aspect> <margins> <interlace> <rb>
---- in config.txt ----
hdmi_cvt=1920 1920 <refresh_rate>
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=87
hdmi_drive=2

Gobojoe1

@ashpool

I was going to try that, but on the page:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=24679
while it mentions:
The first three arguments are required. The remaining ones are optional. aspect defaults to 16:9 if not specified.
And 1:1 wasn't an option. Therefore, I didn't think this was a viable option.

hdmi_cvt=<width> <height> <framerate> <aspect> <margins> <interlace> <rb>
width width in pixels
height height in pixels
framerate framerate in Hz
aspect aspect ratio 1=4:3, 2=14:9, 3=16:9, 4=5:4, 5=16:10, 6=15:9
margins 0=margins disabled, 1=margins enabled
interlace 0=progressive, 1=interlaced
rb 0=normal, 1=reduced blanking

Anyway, I added the code you suggested.
hdmi_cvt=1920 1920 60
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=87
hdmi_drive=2

The RPI startup script is a little clearer (always used the full screen), but EmulationStation is still squished.

I have played around with --resolution X Y in autostart.sh, but it only treats it like a zoom, the ratio is still off.

Could this just be a Theme issue and I need to create a custom Theme for a 1:1?

However, the aspect ratio is also off on the Splash and the Screensaver. So I'm not sure how much all this is related.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated! :)

mitu

The issue is that most of the themes and artwork (splash images/videos/etc.) are made for either 16:9 or 4:3, not for 1:1.
Try changing the view option to 'simple' in EmulationStation's UI option or use a 4:3 theme with the same view option.

Gobojoe1

@mitu

The only options I see are Full, Kiosk, or Kid. I have used Full.

Could this be resolved if I created my own Theme? Can I set the resolution/Aspect Ratio in a custom Theme?

Thanks!

sirhenrythe5th

@gobojoe1 you are in the wrong menu, "simple" has nothing to do with the UI-Modes Kiosk, Kids or Full.

Gobojoe1

@sirhenrythe5th

I have navigated through (what feels like) all the menus and I can't find a setting for 'simple'.

From the Main menu...where would I go?

Thanks!

mitu

@gobojoe1 said in Help with 1:1 monitor (1920x1920):

I have navigated through (what feels like) all the menus and I can't find a setting for 'simple'.

Sorry, it's called 'basic', not 'simple'. It's in the UI settings.

Ashpool

@gobojoe1 said in Help with 1:1 monitor (1920x1920):

hdmi_cvt=<width> <height> <framerate> <aspect> <margins> <interlace> <rb>
width, height, framerate
aspect aspect ratio 1=4:3, 2=14:9, 3=16:9, 4=5:4, 5=16:10, 6=15:9
...

Yup, that is the part which I do not understand/comprehend with that cvt parameter: making width and height mandatory and providing an optional AR flag doesn't make any sense to me, unless the screen mode provided (1st three params) is a subset of the displays capabilities and the AR flag signals the display that it should honour the provided resolutions AR... but if it is supposed to also include the possibility of PAR!=1 SARs, I am at a loss here (in regards to the flags/options for hdmi_mode 87).

Gobojoe1

@ashpool

Thank you for all your help.

I ended up settling on Mode 51 (the largest 4:3) resolution the monitor will accept, and choosing a 4:3 Theme. This makes is look "close enough" for the ES look/feel. Because this will be all MAME games, I have to set the DMT for each one, so luckily any changes to ES doesn't affect the RetroArch settings.

As for the Screensaver and Splash screen (currently a static image), is I will over-squish them in an image editing program so that when they are displayed on the 4:3 setting, they will look like the correct aspect ratio. At least that is the plan.

Thank you all for the help, support, and guidance! My first build and so many online tutorials make it look SOOO easy, yet the online community has been there with support, tricks and tips, and overall welcoming acceptance of noobs. Thanks again!