ASPECT RATIO

Aspect Ratio and the Shot

The aspect ratio of an image describes the proportional relationship between its width and its height. Basically it’s how big the picture is that you’re watching.

It is commonly expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, as in 16:9. For example, consider a group of images, all with an aspect ratio of 16:9. One image is 16 inches wide and 9 inches high. Another image could also be 16 centimeters wide and 9 centimeters high or 8 yards wide and 4.5 yards high.

The most common aspect ratios used today in the presentation of films in movie theaters are 1.85:1 and 2.39:1. Two common videographic aspect ratios are 4:3 (1.33:1), the universal video format of the 20th century, and 16:9 (1.77:1), universal for high-definition televisions and European digital television. Other cinema and video aspect ratios exist, but are used infrequently.

In still camera photography, the most common aspect ratios are 4:3, 3:2, and more recently being found in consumer cameras 16:9. Other aspect ratios, such as 5:3, 5:4, and 1:1 (square format), are used in photography as well, particularly in medium format and large format.

                                               This is a 16:9 format picture of the PSA Video

Some common aspect ratios are:

·         1.33:1 (4:3)
Traditional television & computer monitor standard.

·         1.41:1
Lichtenberg ratio √2:1 ~1.4142:1

·         1.5:1 (3:2)
Classic 35 mm film

·         1.6:1 (8:5)
(Credit cards are 85.6 × 54 mm which is ~1.59:1)

·         1.618:1  
The golden ratio

·         1.66:1 (5:3)
A common European widescreen standard; native Super 16 mm film.

·         1.77:1 or 1.78:1 (16:9)
HD video standard

·         1.85:1
A common US widescreen cinema standard

·         2.39:1 or 2.40:1
A current widescreen cinema standard

                                                     A picture demonstrating the different sizes.