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


The '''aspect ratio''' is the ratio of the projected image's width:height when projected on the screen. In practice, the term is also used to refer to the image's width:height ratio as 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.
 
* the fact that aspect ratios are rarely exact - in reality, aperture plates are cut approximately, etc.




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The [[16mm]] frame has a native full-frame aspect ratio of nearly (though not exactly) 1.33:1. This is the aspect ratio of the vast majority of 16mm prints.
The [[16mm]] frame has a native full-frame aspect ratio of nearly (though not exactly) 1.33:1. 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).
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!
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!


* Pan/scan, cropping, and other TV print issues
 
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.
 


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  {| class="wikitable sortable"
  {| class="wikitable sortable"
  |-
  |-
  ! Gauge  !! Aspect Ratio !! Other names !! Year of Introduction !! Image !! Notes  
  ! Aspect Ratio !! Other names !! Year of Introduction !! Image !! Notes  
|-
| 1.33:1  || Silent / Full Frame || 1907 || || 
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.33:1  || Silent / Full Frame || 1907 || ||   
  | 1.19:1  || Movietone || 1926 || ||   
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.19:1  || Movietone || 1926 || ||
  | 1.37:1  || Academy ratio || 1932 ||   || Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.37:1  || Academy ratio || 1932 ||   || Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33
  | Windowboxed 1.37:1  || || ? || [[File:Windowboxed137-cropped.jpg|thumb]]  || 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.
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.66:1  || || 1953 ||  || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  | 1.66:1  || || 1953 ||  || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.78:1  || || ? ||  || Used for films that originated on video.
  | 1.78:1  || || ||  || Used for films that originated on video.
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 1.85:1  || Flat || 1953 ||   || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  | 1.85:1  || Flat || 1953 || [[File:Hardmatte185-cropped.jpg|thumb]]  || Warning: widescreen formats may be soft-matted
  |-
  |-
  | [[35mm]]  || 2.39:1  || CinemaScope / Anamorphic || 1953 ||    || CinemaScope aspect ratios vary.
  | 2.39:1  || CinemaScope / Anamorphic || 1953 ||    || CinemaScope aspect ratios vary.
  |-
  |-
  |}
  |}
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** Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!
** Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!


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


==70mm==
==70mm==

Revision as of 17:42, 12 August 2013

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.

16mm

The 16mm frame has a native full-frame aspect ratio of nearly (though not exactly) 1.33:1. 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 "pan and scan" efforts.


  • Conventional full frame 16mm print without soundtrack

    Conventional full frame 16mm print without soundtrack

  • Conventional full frame 16mm print with soundtrack

    Conventional full frame 16mm print with soundtrack

  • Anamorphic 16mm print

    Anamorphic 16mm print

35mm

  • Aspect ratios as they appear in the film frame. Red 1.33, Blue 1.37, Yellow 1.66, 'Green 1.85

    Aspect ratios as they appear in the film frame.
    Red 1.33, Blue 1.37, Yellow 1.66, 'Green 1.85

  • Aspect ratios as they appear on a full-width screen.

    Aspect ratios as they appear on a full-width screen.

Aspect Ratio Other names Year of Introduction Image Notes
1.33:1 Silent / Full Frame 1907
1.19:1 Movietone 1926
1.37:1 Academy ratio 1932 Sometimes incorrectly called 1.33
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.
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 CinemaScope aspect ratios vary.
  • Determining correct aspect ratios for widescreen, etc.
    • Eyeballing and measuring
    • Educated guesses based on year, studio, country, etc
    • Caveat: there is no "correct," historically - so contentious!

70mm

See Also


External Links

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