Zion and I agreed it was time for a total rewrite of the official screenshots thread. So with credit to BadAsh71 who originally started the screenshots thread, here is the new and improved version...

This thread provides a means of directly comparing the video quality of the different Star Wars DVD transfers that are available. Please note that comparing them by a still image alone does not tell the full story, as things like video artifacts on playback, audio quality and overall presentation are not accounted for. It does however give an indication of video quality and a general idea of the visual differences between each transfer. The images can also be helpful if you're doing your own transfers, to see what to look for, and what problems to avoid.

The following versions are included:
* George Lucas 2004 "Official" Extra Special Edition
* Dr Gonzo - DVD-5 - Anamorphic - "Definitive Collection" LD Set
* Farsight - DVD-5 - Anamorphic - "Definitive Collection" LD Set
* Dark Jedi/Segaflip - DVD-5 - Letterboxed - Japanese "Special Collection" LD Set
* Moth3r - DVD-5 - Anamorphic - PAL LD Set
* Citizen - DVD-5 - Anamorphic - PAL LD Set
* Cowclops/TR47 1.0 - DVD-5 - Letterboxed - "Definitive Collection" LD Set
* Cowclops/TR47 2.0 - DVD-5 - Anamorphic - "Definitive Collection" LD Set
* ISOMIX - DVD-5 - Letterboxed - "Definitive Collection" LD Set
* Look - DVD-5 - Letterboxed - Special Edition LD Set

The originaltrilogy.com official screenshots are hosted at Zion's site. Frames were chosen to highlight different aspects of the video, including color, detail, and black and white points. Click on the thumbnails below to view:

<< Shot 1  << Shot 2 << Shot 3

<< Shot 4 << Shot 5 << Shot 6

<< Shot 7 << Shot 8 << Shot 9

<< Shot 10 << Shot 11 << Shot 12

<< Shot 13 << Shot 14 << Shot 15

<< Shot 16 << Shot 17 << Shot 18

<< Shot 19 << Shot 20 << Shot 21

<< Shot 22 << Shot 23 << Shot 24

<< Shot 25 << Shot 26 << Shot 27

<< Shot 28 << Shot 29 << Shot 30

<< Shot 31 << Shot 32 << Shot 33

<< Shot 34 << Shot 35 << Shot 36

A smaller number of frames can also be seen over at Moth3r's comparison page. This page features a dynamic image swapping script which can really help when making very close comparisons of two different versions.

Further comments on the screenshots can be found at the original Official Screenshots Thread and the original screenshots feedback thread.

If you would like to help add screenshots for a transfer that isn't on the list, please contact Zion.

Very, very nice.

Some of the screen capture shots show high contrast in the last few on the bottom where as well as which one do you chose from some are cropped on the sides and a little cropping off on the top and bottom part of the frame. Is someone deliberately trying to drive us all stir crazy. There where a few images that I liked.

Official "GOUT" DVD - PAL
2006 George Lucas Original Unaltered Edition
Letterbox PAL
DVD9



Moth3r
1995 French THX PAL LDs
Anamorphic PAL
DVD5

Does anyone know where I can find screenshots of the Menus for the LD preservation DVDs? I swear it was on OT.com, but maybe I saw it somewhere else....

Does anyone have or can they post screenshots of the PAL 2004 Special Edition discs? I'd really like to know if they are sharper due to the 20% extra resolution in PAL.

Sometimes PAL masters are made from 480 line NTSC masters so they don't look any better... but if the PAL DVDs were mastered from a hi-def or film source, they may very well look sharper.

I'd really like to know!

Moth3r, can these frames be added to the screenshots thread? Or can you test a few and do so if they actually show a difference?

Russ has some screenshots on his site, http://galactictradefederation.com/.

That's exactly the site I was looking for. Thanks!!!

The more up to date version of my site is at http://www.galactictradefederation.co.uk/

Excellent! I was worried that your site was done with. This is such a great reference.

PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PAL PLEASE

Are you looking for a pal ? Are you searching for some specific shots ?

I'd like to see PAL frames from the Special Edition DVDs to see if they have more detail than the NTSC versions...

Like I say on the screenshots site, if anyone is willing to capture the screenshots, I'll put them up.

A few random shots from the first VOB:
http://rapidshare.com/files/94345602/PALscreens.zip.html

The screens I'd really like to see would be from 1997. Unfortunately, I don't have that version in any form.
I saw comparisons between the ridiculous 2004 releases and the European digital TB broadcasts of all three films (TB are noticably cropped). I thought I saw them on DVDbeaver but couldn't find them just now.

It appears both versions of the Galactic Trade Federation are gone... I'm sad, now...

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Galactic-Trade-Federation-website/post/355320/#post355320

Hehe, oops.  Thanks Moth3r!  Was slightly worried when I saw both domain names didn't have the site.  It really is a useful resource.

I'm thinking I probably should revive my old screenshot comparison page and update it to enable users to compare the various Custom DVDs that are now available.

I've managed to retrieve the page from various sources (it was hosted on the now defunct Geocities, and I never made a proper backup). Any suggestions for a free web host to use now?

What's the waybackmachine location of your old page? (here it is: http://www.geocities.com/m00002001/screenshot-test.htm)" target="_blank" title="web.archive.org/web/20071208214335/http://www.geocities.com/m00002001/screenshot-test.htm)">http://web.archive.org/web/20071208214335/http://www.geocities.com/m00002001/screenshot-test.htm) You wouldn't want to continue adding sources to the Zion page linked from the first post? It's a clean easy interface allowing side by side comparison. Is the image load that high that you wouldn't want to have it on the wiki?

EDIT

ok had never seen your comparison page, but the interface is probably where Zion started his.

I doubt that Zion would have the time to add more shots to his site.

I see you found that this forum does not like wayback machine links! The actual images used in that comparison page are hosted in a photobucket account.

Is Zion's site down? "can't find server" ?

Yeah, he said so in the X0 thread.

Sorry- I haven't paid attention to that thread for quite a while.

It looks like Zion's site is back up.

I've also moved my old page to a new location. Planning on later adding a new comparison for GOUT-sourced custom DVDs.