What does the p and the i stand for on 1080i and 1080p?

Question

What does the p and the i stand for on 1080i and 1080p?

Answer 1

i = interlaced, your screen will show the odd lines of resolution for 1/60th of a second and then show the even number lines for 1/60th of a second.

So at any one time you are only seeing 540 lines of resolution with 1080i

p = progressive, the entire image is shown every 1/60th of a second giving a much better image.

http://www2.panasonic.com/static/Content...

this picture shows the two scans of interlaced each showing only half the image, and the third image is of progressive scan

Answer 2

The i is an interlaced frame. The frames are shown in numerical order, odd then even at a specific frame rate. The p is a progressive frame. Both odd and even frames are shown at the same time at a specific frame rate. Both i&p equal 60 frames per second, but with both frames being shown at the same time in progressive mode the eye registers a smoother and better looking picture.

That is the simplest way I can describe it without going geek on you.

Answer 3

i stands for interlaced and p for progressive.  Progressive is twice as good