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[[File:35mmaspectratios.JPG|right|thumb|300px]]


The '''aspect ratio''' is the ratio of the projected image's width:height when projected on the [[screen]] or printed on the film.
The '''aspect ratio''' is the ratio of the projected image's width:height when projected on the [[screen]] or printed on the film.


==Small Gauges: 8mm, Super 8, etc.==
* define soft + hard matting, "native" aspect ratio, etc.
* Super 8 - 1.36:1
* 9.5mm - 1.31:1
* 28mm - 1.36:1
 
==16mm==
 
The [[16mm]] frame has a native full-frame aspect ratio of ~1.34:1. This is the aspect ratio of the vast majority of 16mm prints.
 
 
Other 16mm aspect ratios exist, however. Some prints are hard-matted to widescreen aspect ratios like 1.85 and 1.66 (this is seen with some frequency on 16mm reductions of widescreen feature films originally released on 35mm).
 
 
Anamorphic 16mm prints also exist. These have an aspect ratio of 2.66:1 (because of the native 1.33 aspect ratio of the frame). Note that this means that anamorphic 16mm reductions of films originally released as 35mm anamorphic will be cropped slightly at the top and bottom of the frame!
 
 
16mm was historically used for the distribution of Hollywood releases to nontheatrical venues (schools, prisons, summer camps, etc.) as well as for television broadcast. Further variations related to aspect ratio crop up on prints that were used for these purposes. These include simple cropping of widescreen or CinemaScope images to 16mm's native 1.33 as well as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_and_scan pan and scan]" efforts.
 
 
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px>
16mm-doubleperf-silent.jpg|''Conventional full frame 16mm print without soundtrack''
File:16mm-mono-single.jpg|''Conventional full frame 16mm print with soundtrack''
File:16mm-scope2.jpg|''Anamorphic 16mm print''
</gallery>


==35mm==
==35mm==
Line 41: Line 17:
  | 1.33:1  || Silent / Full Frame || 1907 || ||   
  | 1.33:1  || Silent / Full Frame || 1907 || ||   
  |-
  |-
  | 1.19:1  || Movietone || 1926 || ||
  | 1.19:1  || Movietone || 1926 || || Often projected with 1.37 lenses in theaters without specialized 1.19 lenses; however, doing this will chop off a substantial portion of the image.
  |-
  |-
  | 1.37:1  || Academy ratio || 1932 ||  || Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33
  | 1.37:1  || Academy ratio || 1932 ||  || Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33. Was used well past 1953 in some countries outside of the US. See also: [[List of 35mm features released in 1.37 after 1953]].
  |-
  |-
  | Windowboxed 1.37:1  || || ? || || Projected with a 1.85 lens, these prints are most often rereleases of films made in traditional 1.37 that will be shown in wide release at theaters not outfitted with 1.37 lenses.
  | Windowboxed 1.37:1  || || ? || || Projected with a 1.85 lens and aperture plate, these prints are often rereleases of films made in traditional 1.37 that will be shown in wide release at theaters not outfitted with 1.37 lenses.
  |-
  |-
  | 1.66:1  || || 1953 ||  || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  | 1.66:1  || || 1953 ||  || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
Line 53: Line 29:
  | 1.85:1  || Flat || 1953 || || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  | 1.85:1  || Flat || 1953 || || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  |-
  |-
  | 2.39:1  || CinemaScope / Anamorphic || 1953 ||    || CinemaScope aspect ratios vary.
  | 2.39:1  || CinemaScope / Anamorphic || 1953 ||    || Historically, CinemaScope aspect ratios have varied. Today's lenses are mostly calibrated for 2.39:1.
  |-
  |-
  |}
  |}


===35mm aspect ratio images===
===35mm aspect ratio gallery===
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px>
(''click to enlarge)''
<gallery widths=250px heights=250px mode=packed>
File:Joan of arc.JPG| 1.33 Full Frame silent print of ''The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)''
File:Pandora_and_the_flying_dutchman.JPG|1.37 with mono optical track, ''Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)''
File:Windowboxed137-cropped.jpg|Windowboxed 1.37:1
File:Hardmatte185-cropped.jpg|Hard-matted 1.85:1
File:Hardmatte185-cropped.jpg|Hard-matted 1.85:1
File:Windowboxed137-cropped.jpg|Windowboxed 1.37:1
 
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Determining 35mm aspect ratios for projection===
===Determining 35mm aspect ratios for projection===


For some [[film gauges]], the aspect ratio will be obvious. 16mm is rarely anything but full frame (though there are variations - see above). Other small gauges are rarely anything but their native aspect ratios. [[35mm]], however, can be complicated.
For some [[film gauges]], the aspect ratio will be obvious. 16mm is rarely anything but full frame (though there are variations - see [[16mm]] page). Other small gauges are rarely anything but their native aspect ratios. [[35mm]], however, can be complicated. Determining aspect ratio is one of the reasons that prints should be inspected before being run. See [[Inspection]] for more details on the process.


* The first way to determine the aspect ratio is to find out when the film was made and using your knowledge of film history, assign its aspect ratio.
* The first way to determine the aspect ratio is to find out when the film was made and using your knowledge of film history, assign its aspect ratio.
* The second and complementary way is to look at a frame of the print and using the different aperture plates, try to eyeball which looks best.
* The second and complementary way is to look at a frame of the print and using the different aperture plates, try to eyeball which looks best. You can do this first with at the light table, and then if possible by viewing some of the film on screen.
** It's often best to look at the [[framing]] of the opening credits, or at a scene with [[subtitles]].
* It's often best to look at the [[framing]] of the opening credits, or at a scene with [[subtitles]].


Be aware that there are always exceptions to any these rules. And: don't just trust IMDb!
Be aware that there are always exceptions to any these rules. And: don't just trust IMDb!


* Determining correct aspect ratios for widescreen, etc.
* Determining correct aspect ratios for widescreen, etc.
** Do not always trust what's written on the can or on the print! If you receive a print that is incorrectly labeled (and you are certain of it) make sure to correct it.  
** Do not always trust what's written on the can or on the print! If you receive a print that is incorrectly labeled by another venue or projectionists (and you are certain of it) make sure to correct it or remove the label. If the label is from the distributor or archive, don't remove it but make a note that the information is incorrect. 
** Eyeballing and measuring
* Eyeballing and measuring
** Educated guesses based on year, studio, country, etc
* Educated guesses based on year, studio, country, etc. See [[Inspection]] page for information on determining the year a print was struck.
** Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!
* Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!
** For films that have been released on DVD or Blu-Ray there is often a lot of information online about the "original" aspect ratio of the film. Sites like [http://www.imdb.com IMDB] and [http://www.TCM.com TCM] can be helpful, but always use this information along with one of the above techniques as they are not always correct!
* For films that have been released on DVD or Blu-Ray there is often a lot of information online about the "original" aspect ratio of the film. Sites like [http://www.imdb.com IMDB] and [http://www.TCM.com TCM] can be helpful, but always use this information along with one of the above techniques as they are not always correct!


* [[List of 35mm features released in 1.37 after 1953]]
* [[List of 35mm features released in 1.37 after 1953]]


==Small Gauges: 8mm, Super 8, etc.==
* Super 8 - 1.36:1
* 9.5mm - 1.31:1
* 28mm - 1.36:1




==70mm==
==Related Pages==
 
*[[16mm]] See: ''16mm aspect ratios''
 
*[[70mm]] See: ''70mm aspect ratios''
==See Also==
* [[Aperture plate]]
* [[Aperture plate]]
* [[Lens]]
* [[Lens]]
Line 96: Line 78:
==External Links==
==External Links==
* Essay: [http://www.northwestchicagofilmsociety.org/2012/07/02/invasion-of-the-aspect-ratios/ Invasion of the Aspect Ratios]
* Essay: [http://www.northwestchicagofilmsociety.org/2012/07/02/invasion-of-the-aspect-ratios/ Invasion of the Aspect Ratios]
* Advice from Jean-Pierre Léaud: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ba3WOoE20 YouTube]


[[Category:Film components]]
[[Category:Film prints]]
[[Category:Film prints]]
[[Category:Showmanship]]
[[Category:Showmanship]]
[[Category:Film gauges]]

Revision as of 12:33, 4 April 2017

The aspect ratio is the ratio of the projected image's width:height when projected on the screen or printed on the film.

  • define soft + hard matting, "native" aspect ratio, etc.

35mm

Aspect Ratio Other names Year of Introduction Image Notes
1.33:1 Silent / Full Frame 1907
1.19:1 Movietone 1926 Often projected with 1.37 lenses in theaters without specialized 1.19 lenses; however, doing this will chop off a substantial portion of the image.
1.37:1 Academy ratio 1932 Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33. Was used well past 1953 in some countries outside of the US. See also: List of 35mm features released in 1.37 after 1953.
Windowboxed 1.37:1 ? Projected with a 1.85 lens and aperture plate, these prints are often rereleases of films made in traditional 1.37 that will be shown in wide release at theaters not outfitted with 1.37 lenses.
1.66:1 1953 Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
1.78:1 Used for films that originated on video.
1.85:1 Flat 1953 Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
2.39:1 CinemaScope / Anamorphic 1953 Historically, CinemaScope aspect ratios have varied. Today's lenses are mostly calibrated for 2.39:1.

35mm aspect ratio gallery

(click to enlarge)

Determining 35mm aspect ratios for projection

For some film gauges, the aspect ratio will be obvious. 16mm is rarely anything but full frame (though there are variations - see 16mm page). Other small gauges are rarely anything but their native aspect ratios. 35mm, however, can be complicated. Determining aspect ratio is one of the reasons that prints should be inspected before being run. See Inspection for more details on the process.

  • The first way to determine the aspect ratio is to find out when the film was made and using your knowledge of film history, assign its aspect ratio.
  • The second and complementary way is to look at a frame of the print and using the different aperture plates, try to eyeball which looks best. You can do this first with at the light table, and then if possible by viewing some of the film on screen.
  • It's often best to look at the framing of the opening credits, or at a scene with subtitles.

Be aware that there are always exceptions to any these rules. And: don't just trust IMDb!

  • Determining correct aspect ratios for widescreen, etc.
    • Do not always trust what's written on the can or on the print! If you receive a print that is incorrectly labeled by another venue or projectionists (and you are certain of it) make sure to correct it or remove the label. If the label is from the distributor or archive, don't remove it but make a note that the information is incorrect.
  • Eyeballing and measuring
  • Educated guesses based on year, studio, country, etc. See Inspection page for information on determining the year a print was struck.
  • Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!
  • For films that have been released on DVD or Blu-Ray there is often a lot of information online about the "original" aspect ratio of the film. Sites like IMDB and TCM can be helpful, but always use this information along with one of the above techniques as they are not always correct!

Small Gauges: 8mm, Super 8, etc.

  • Super 8 - 1.36:1
  • 9.5mm - 1.31:1
  • 28mm - 1.36:1


Related Pages


External Links