Receiving Helpdesk

film aspect ratio

by Leilani Hegmann DVM Published 4 years ago Updated 3 years ago

The common film aspect ratios used in cinemas are 1.85:1 and 2.39:1. Two common videographic aspect ratios are 4:3 (1. 3:1), the universal video format of the 20th century, and 16:9 (1. 7:1), universal for high-definition television and European digital television.

Which aspect ratio should you use in your film?

There is no one best aspect ratio – it all depends on the look you’re after! Some scenes benefit from square (1:1) aspect ratios, whereas others look great with a 4:3 or a 5:4 aspect ratio. I’d recommend playing around in a program like Adobe Lightroom. What aspect ratio do professional photographers use? That depends on the photo.

How to choose the right aspect ratio for your film?

  • 9:16 vertical video
  • 1:1 square video
  • 4:5 portrait video

What aspect ratio is the best?

  • The Best 16:10 Aspect Ratio Laptops Compared
  • The Best 16:10 Aspect Ratio Laptops – Our Picks
  • 1. Apple MacBook Air (M1, Late 2020) – The best laptop for most people
  • 2. Dell XPS 13 9310 – Windows alternative
  • 3. Dell Inspiron 13 5310 – Incredible performance at a reasonable price
  • 4. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 – A Premium 2-in-1 laptop with a 16:10 aspect ratio
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More items...

How to change aspect ratio of video easily and quickly?

Top Recommended: FlexClip

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Is 35mm film aspect ratio?

The aspect ratio of the 35mm frame is 3:2. Most dSLR cameras default to the 3:2 aspect ratio. A 3:2 image will print a full frame 4×6 print with little to no cropping, however, there is a big difference when printing an 8×10 (see below).

What does 2.35 1 aspect ratio look like?

0:087:16What is ASPECT RATIO (and how to project into 2.35:1) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAspect ratio is the visual term that represents the shape of a viewing area it. Usually is writtenMoreAspect ratio is the visual term that represents the shape of a viewing area it. Usually is written with two numbers.

What is a 2.39 1 aspect ratio?

2.39:1. Known as anamorphic widescreen format, 2.39:1 is the widest aspect ratio common in modern cinema. It creates an aesthetic customarily associated with premium dramatic feature films, and its wide field of view makes it the ratio of choice for shooting scenic landscapes.21-Jun-2021

What is projector aspect ratio?

A projector's aspect ratio refers to the ratio between its width and height. For example, a 4:3 display produces an image that is more square, where a 16:9 ratio produces an image that is more rectangular in shape.

What is the meaning of aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio describes the relationship of an image’s width to its height. Are the images being viewed in a format that is basically square? Long and wide? Tall and narrow?

How is aspect ratio determined?

In the past, aspect ratio was determined by the available technology. Now, it involves conscious choices based on what type of media is being consumed, what device it’s being watched on, and the director or creator’s vision.

What is the aspect ratio of Instagram?

With the rise of social media and smartphones, however, aspect ratios are beginning to shift in a vertical direction. Instagram uses a square 1:1 aspect ratio . And so many people view videos on their phones that a new vertical aspect ratio, 9:16, is becoming popular.

What is the first decision you make when editing a movie?

One of your earliest film editing decisions is to pick the aspect ratio that will best serve both your creative vision and your viewing audience.

What is the Hollywood movie ratio?

In 1932, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences established the standard ratio for Hollywood films, 1.375:1, which became known as the "Academy ratio.".

What does it mean when movies are shot in Academy ratio?

This meant that when films shot in Academy ratio were broadcast on television, the movies could be seen in their proper format. Unfortunately, that meant films shot with widescreen lens like CinemaScope were not formatted properly to appear on television screens.

What is the aspect ratio of Ben Hur?

The 1959 epic Ben-Hur was one of the "widest" major studio releases of all time, with an aspect ratio of 2.76:1.

What is 70mm film?

Other widescreen film formats utilized 70mm film, a larger-size film stock. It was used in a number of films in the late 1950s and 1960s, including popular musicals like Oklahoma (1955), South Pacific (1958), My Fair Lady (1964), and The Sound of Music (1965). It remains a popular artistic format for filmmakers for some of their films, ...

What was the first narrative film released in a widescreen format?

The first narrative film released in one of these new widescreen formats, Cinemascope, was 20th Century Fox's The Robe.

Why has the proportion of the projected image changed?

Over the decades of cinema history, the proportion of the projected image has changed for various reasons, though chiefly for dramatic composition . Starting in the 1950s, television had a significant influence on the changing aspect ratio of film.

What was the first movie made in Cinemascope?

1953: View of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood with floodlights shining and crowd standing in line at the premiere of director Henry Koster's film, 'The Robe' , the first film made in Cinemascope. Hulton Archive / Getty Images.

What is the widescreen aspect ratio?

When people talk about widescreen for computer monitors and television, most of the time what they are referring to is this aspect ratio. 16:9 is today an international standard for digital media and the internet.

What is 4:3 aspect ratio?

Consequently, this aspect ratio today feels like a blast from the past. Filmmakers implore it for purposes of flashbacks, or for period pieces that need to relive a certain era of history.

What movie did Steven Spielberg use 1.85?

Steven Spielberg implored the 1.85 for his 1993 hit, Jurassic Park. The result was over a fifth increase in vertical background per frame to keep up wonderfully with the massive beasts. In the wide shots especially, it does justice to the size difference between man and dinosaur.

What was the aspect ratio of the movie Ben Hur?

The movie used 70 mm film, or 65 mm from the MGM Camera 65 to be precise, to provide a gigantic aspect ratio of 2.75. It inspired a number of films that would follow down the same path. Ben-Hur won Best Picture that year and was considered a huge win for cinema when TV was beginning to steal attention.

What is anamorphic widescreen?

The anamorphic widescreen format, as it’s known, is among the most popular widescreen aspect ratios for cinema. It offers a massive movie experience, the sort to have audiences lining up for the movies once more. The ratio was the answer to TV’s growing success. It is particularly popular with movies that need to bring massive landscapes into perspective.

Did movies have 16:9 before TV?

The idea was unheard of until the onset of television. Most of the time, cropping and editing molds it into 1.78 for home viewing. Before modern TVs and the internet, films relied on wider ratios for big cinema screens. Hence the concept was entirely brought about by the arrival of modern television.

What is the aspect ratio of a film strip?

As film evolved, so did the aspect ratio. Film strips eventually became 1.37:1, and that became the standard for cinema across the globe.

What is Cinemascope's aspect ratio?

CinemaScope used aspect ratios of 2.35:1 to 2.66:1. It only had to use one projector to get the image on the screen, so it was preferable to Cinerama. Developed by Earl Sponable, who was the head of research at 20th Century Fox, CinemaScope was last used in 1967, the term "scope" is still used by projectionists and filmmakers to refer to any movie that uses anamorphic lenses or with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 or more.

What is the largest aspect ratio in Dunkirk?

Think about how Christopher Nolan used IMAX and 70mm to give Dunkirk the largest aspect ratio possible.

What is the aspect ratio of 70mm?

70mm boasts an aspect ratio of 2.76:1 – twice as large as the standard 35mm film. 70mm was what put Ben-Hur on the map in 1959, and now it's a way that filmmakers are getting people out to see the spectacle. 70mm is often combined with IMAX formats.

Why is aspect ratio important?

While this sounds technical, aspect ratios can help storytellers add another layer to their repertoire. Also, for independent filmmakers and huge studio directors, the right aspect ratio can attract more viewers and create a buzz around your film or TV show. There's a lot to learn when it comes to aspect ratios.

What was the first widescreen format?

Cinerama was the first widescreen format to be introduced after the Academy Ratio became a standard in 1932. It involved projecting images from three synchronized 35mm projectors onto a deeply-arced screen. It utilized a spect ratios of 2.59:1 to 2.65:1 to make images seem huge.

How has aspect ratio changed over time?

Aspect ratios have changed over time, depending on what people use to view media. As screens got bigger, aspect ratio adjusted. As they got smaller, it continued to happen. Over 100 years ago, the very first films were projected in 4:3. The standard film strip was run through a projector and light behind it through the image onto a wall. The 4:3, or 1.33:1, was the literal measurement of the strip.

What is aspect ratio?

In simple words, the aspect ratio is the ratio between the width and the height of a video or a screen. It determines how wide (or long) your video will be. As you would’ve guessed, aspect ratio is also used in the context of still images, but since we’re talking about video, in this article, we will not digress to include aspect ratio for image.#N#Aspect ratios are usually written as – x : y and read as – x by y#N#The first number refers to the width, while the second to the height. For example, if a video’s aspect ratio is 16:9, the number 16 refers to its width, while 9 refers to its height. If a video of the same dimensions was to be recorded vertically, the aspect ratio would then be 9:16 (9 referring to the width, while 16 to the height).#N#Here’s an example of a YouTube video of 16:9 aspect ratio:

What is the best aspect ratio for a video?

16:9 is typically considered most optimal since it works well on most devices and is capable of high resolution. However, the ideal aspect ratio will depend on where you want your video to play.

What is the most common aspect ratio on Instagram?

The most common aspect ratio one would find on Instagram is its classic 1:1. This is also an optimal format for phone screens. However, content creators do use more formats on the platform. Since content on Instagram is consumed on the phone, it helps to know the most popular video aspect ratios for mobile:

What aspect ratio is YouTube?

The standard aspect ratio for YouTube is 16:9 . This means that no matter what aspect ratio you record your video in, the YouTube video player will automatically change it to 16:9.#N#So, while 16:9 is ideal, you may choose to still record your video in other formats, like square (1:1), 4:3, or even in vertical format (9:16). To fit your video (of differing aspect ratios) on different devices, the YouTube video player may automatically add the default white padding (grey, when the Dark theme is enabled).#N#It’s recommended to not manually add padding to your videos, since it may interfere with YouTube’s ability to adjust the player to your video and to the viewing device’s aspect ratios.#N#If you do not want padding in your video and if you want your video to fit perfectly in the YouTube video player, it’s recommended to record your video in 16:9 aspect ratio, that is, in one of these dimensions:

What is the difference between aspect ratio and resolution?

While aspect ratio is the ratio of width and height of a video, its resolution is the total number of pixels displayed on screen.

What is the resolution of 1920 x 1080?

The resolution 1920 x 1080 has an aspect ratio of 16:9. By default, smartphones and DSLRs record videos in 1920 x 1080 px.

What aspect ratio do you record a video in?

While the aspect ratio you would record your video in, depends on where your video will be played , the most common one that videos are recorded in is 16:9. Its popularity is purely because it allows for videos to be recorded in the highest possible resolution. And that’s why it’s a standard on most popular video streaming platforms.

What is an aspect ratio?

Aspect ratios are largely defined by numbers, as in a mathematical ratio that clearly defines how many inches high and how many inches wide your video, image and design projects should be.

How to achieve perfect aspect ratio?

To achieve a perfect aspect ratio, you must employ the use of an aspect ratio calculator. It reduces any margin of error. Check the what is aspect ratio post.

Why do we need an aspect ratio calculator?

If you are working on a digital video, it is essential to initially compress the files of the digital video in order to get the accurate dimensions (or aspect ratios) of the video.

What is the proportional relationship between the height and width of a rectangle?

For the record, the proportional relationship between the height and width of a rectangle is what is aptly referred to as an aspect ratio.

Early Aspect Ratio Standards

Image
In the earliest years of cinema, there was not an established standard aspect ratio, and films were released in a variety of aspect ratios. Silent films eventually settled on a 4:3 aspect ratio based on the space between the perforations of standard 35mm film. That means that for every four inches in width, the projection was thr…
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How Television Introduced Widescreen Film

  • Some early films were projected in widescreen formats, such as the 1927 epic film Napoléon, which used three projectors side-by-side to have a total image size of 4:00:1, and the 1930 John Wayne Fox Film feature The Big Trail, which was shot in a 70mm film format dubbed "Fox Grandeur." However, almost all films from 1932 through the mid-1950s were released in the Aca…
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Fullscreen vs. Letterbox

  • A second issue with television and aspect ratio is that television was developed with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is similar to the original silent film ratio and Academy ratio. This meant that when films shot in Academy ratio were broadcast on television, the movies could be seen in their proper format. Unfortunately, that meant films shot with widescreen lens like CinemaScope were not fo…
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Widescreen Today

  • With the increased popularity of widescreen television sets and high-definition broadcasting (both typically in a 16:9 aspect ratio), the pan and scan format has decreased in popularity and most home media releases and content (including content shot for television or streaming) is now released in a widescreen format. Nonetheless, some filmmakers still utilize Academy ratio for s…
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What Is Aspect Ratio?

  • Aspect ratiosimply refers to the display dimensions of an image on any screen. True to its name, the metric is identifiable as a ratio. That ratio translates from a fraction which determines how much bigger the image’s width is in reference to its height. Choosing an aspect ratio is another tool for the filmmaker. Especially for the auteur filmmaker, his or her choice of an aspect ratio c…
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How Aspect Ratio Impacts Film

  • Aspect ratio may not be among the most exciting details of the filmmaking process. Yet, it plays an important role in film that compellingly affects us. For a long time, 1.37:1 was the rule of thumb until the success of TV incited the change to widescreen ratios. Consequently, the above aspect ratio has grown synonymous with the mid-1950s. Movies that implore this ratio thereby have tha…
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Aspect Ratios Used in Film with Examples

  • 1.33:1, more popularly known as 4:3 ratio
    The 4:3 is the oldest aspect ratio tracing back to the origin of cinema as we know it. Before the onset of HDTVs, movies of the century were mostly shot on 4:3. Consequently, this aspect ratio today feels like a blast from the past. Filmmakers implore it for purposes of flashbacks, or for pe…
  • 1.66: 1, or 5:3 ratio
    For 5:3, the width is five times the size of the height. It’s not a common aspect ratio in the current movie climate. In fact, you’ll be hard placed to find any movies shot in the aspect ratio. What would typically happen is a film is first shot in 4:3 which is then cropped to the desired ratio. Ho…
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Choose Wisely

  • A movie comprises 24 photographs per second. It gets shown on a flat screen, or in today’s streaming world, gets viewed on a handheld tablet or smartphone. Think of these things as windows to your brave new world as a filmmaker. Thus, your choice of aspect ratio matters. For online video, it’s safe to choose the 16:9 version so the viewer doesn’t get thrown off and focuse…
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