Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 1 | Shamita Harsh
Unit 4 | Aspect Ratio Aspect Ratio Aspect ratio refers to how the image appears on the screen based on how it was shot– the ratio of width (horizontal or top) to height (vertical or side) of a film frame, image, or screen.
The aspect ratio of an image describes the relationship between width and height. It's usually written as two numbers separated by a colon, as in 16:9. It can also be written with an “x” between the numbers. Example 1: Netflix’s aspect ratio is 16x9. Example 2: Facebook supports 16x9, 9x16, 4:5, 2:3, and 1:1.
Samples of various aspect ratios
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 2 | Shamita Harsh Dating back to Thomas Edison’s equipment, 1.33:1 was for a long time the typical aspect ratio for film. The ratio 1.33:1, which was dubbed “Academy aperture” in 1932 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, soon became the first standard ratio in film, and was used until the 1950s. (The ratio 1.33:1 is the same as the 4:3 ratio of a television screen.) During the 1950s, developments in wide-screen formats and aspect ratios were introduced, including 1.65:1 and higher. Other anamorphic systems, such as CinemaScope and Panavision, have an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, while Cinerama had a ratio of 2.77:1. The aspect ratio for 70-mm. films is 2.2:1, and letterboxed videos for wide-screen televisions usually have an aspect ratio of 1.77:1 (or 16:9). Standard 35-mm. films have an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (normally 1.66:1 in Europe).
Your aspect ratio changes depending on where you put your content. Have you ever tried to load a video onto Instagram and had the best parts cut off?
Or are you old enough to remember what it was like watching movies on box TVs?
It helps you literally frame your message for every viewer. A better framed message will result in a better connection with your audience.
When do I use an aspect ratio calculator?
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 3 | Shamita Harsh When you’re editing or resizing images, it’s essential to have an aspect ratio calculator. Especially if you’re going from widescreen to full-screen aspect ratio.
The widescreen ratio explained.
These calculators use an algorithm to make edits precise and help you to crop or expand images. When you get the correct formula, your resized image will not appear squashed or stretched. That will make your content look professional and polished.
What are some modern picture ratios?
Nowadays, there are some common aspect ratios everyone should know. The most
common film ratios used today in movie theaters are 1.85:1 and 2.39:1 as well as 16x9.
If you’re watching online or on a TV, they can be 4:3 (or 4x3) (1.33:1) and 16:9 (1.77:1). 4x3 Aspect Ratio
4x3 is known as “Full Screen.” It became the standard because it was the easiest to use because it mirrored the film stock. Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 4 | Shamita Harsh Television companies fell in line and created TV monitors that mirrored this display. As computers rose to prominence, their screens also favored 4:3.
After widescreen televisions evolved, many TV productions had to get their aspect ratio calculators out to edit their shows with the new requirements.
When you watch this scene the wide shots are used to bring you into Schindler’s mind. We’re constantly bouncing back and forth between a close up on his face and a wide shot where we follow the travesty and the little girl.
As time went on, technology got better. That brought larger theaters and the capability of bigger projections. Still, when larger movies were shown on television, they were shrunk down. This could sometimes change the director’s vision, and even the scope of the movie.
The aspect ratio race
The widescreen aspect ratio craze started in the late 1940’s and continues today.
Cinerama took over the big screen in the 1950s. It was the most significant format anyone had ever seen, 2.59:1. Executives needed to make money, so they wanted to get people into the theaters. Bigger was better.
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 5 | Shamita Harsh And they were even able to open theaters to specifically show things in Cinerama.
Along with Cinerama, a projection called CinemaScope rose to prominence (and is still used today). CinemaScope films are shown in 2.35:1. That’s pretty wide. It makes going to the movies feel like an event.
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 6 | Shamita Harsh The race heats up
Theaters and studios were in such competition in the 1960’s they wanted to outdo one another. That’s when 70mm film allowed studios to show things in 2.76:1. This became a calling card for the biggest movies. It helped attract fans and awards.
The original Ben Hur was shown in 70mm, and it became an event for people to see on the big screen. Ben-Hur felt as big as ancient Rome. The scope of the film was unparalleled at the time. https://youtu.be/NR1ZHKw09n8
The mission to get people into the theater is so critical that there’s been a rise in 70mm film and also IMAX in today's cinemas. These can be gimmicks, but the best filmmakers use larger formats to make their stories pop off the screen.
Dunkirk, The Master, and Hateful Eight have all utilized large format as part of their marketing campaign. They made seeing them in theaters an event. People are staying home more and more. It’s hard to even get them in the theaters even with IMAX and 3D. Televisions got significantly better in the 1990s and 2000s.
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 7 | Shamita Harsh 16x9 aspect ratio
The 16x9 aspect ratio is also known as 1920x1080. 16:9 didn’t become the standard for televisions and computer monitors until 2010. A man named Dr. Kerns Powers came up with the ratio as a compromise to traditional broadcasting in the 1980s.
Today, 16:9 is the preferred aspect ratio of Netflix. Netflix counts on people watching on their laptops and flatscreen TVs. If they’re watching a movie or show filmed in a different aspect ratio, Netflix will sometimes edit the program to fit better.
Cinema has struggled to keep up with the rise in home theaters. As Netflix, Amazon and Hulu work to create more content, they’re also working to fix their aspect ratio problem so you can view anything you want at home without cropping. That’s great news for creators, who can now switch the ratio without feeling an obligation to the platform where it debuts.
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 8 | Shamita Harsh What should you use for the web?
YouTube aspect ratio
Everyone wants to put videos on YouTube but only a few people know how. Lucky for you, we make a lot of YouTube content. So we know they work best with things shot in 16x9.
https://youtu.be/Tkbto1oLAnE
Instagram aspect ratio
Social Media is key to any advertising or video posting. Instagram shoots photos and square format videos, but it supports four unique aspect ratios.
1. Square (1:1)
2. Standard Horizontal (16:9)
3. Alt Horizontal (1.91:1)
4. Vertical (4:5)
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 9 | Shamita Harsh Facebook aspect ratio
Facebook supports 16x9, 9x16, 4:5, 2:3, and 1:1. You can upload phone videos, movie trailers, and fluidly share videos from all other social channels.
Twitter aspect ratio
When you tweet videos, you have to keep in mind that people will be scrolling when they see them. Twitter crops videos to make them fit their timeline. You may need an aspect ratio calculator to help you do the math.
Resource: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/aspect-ratio/ Unit 4 | Documentary Production Aspect Ratio 10 | Shamita Harsh
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