aspect ratio
Noun: 1. The proportional relationship between an image's width and its height: This is a numerical expression, typically written as "width:height", that describes the shape of a rectangle. It is a key specification for displays (like TV and computer screens), film, photography, and digital images, determining how the picture is framed and displayed.
The term "aspect ratio" is used to specify the dimensions of a visual medium. It is a fixed property of a display device or image file. * When describing a screen or image: "The monitor has a 16:9 aspect ratio." * When comparing formats: "Modern widescreen TVs use a different aspect ratio than old standard-definition sets." * When discussing composition: "The filmmaker chose a 2.35:1 aspect ratio for a cinematic look."
- For displays and video:
- Most HD television broadcasts have an aspect ratio of 16:9.
- The old movie was filmed in a 4:3 aspect ratio, so it has black bars on the sides when shown on a widescreen TV.
- For photography and images:
- Please save the graphic with an aspect ratio of 1:1 for the profile picture.
- Cropping the photo changed its aspect ratio from 3:2 to 5:4.
- Constant vs. Variable Aspect Ratio: A display has a constant, physical aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9). A video file may have a variable aspect ratio if it contains different scenes filmed in different formats.
- Pixel Aspect Ratio (PAR): A more technical concept in digital video referring to the shape of individual pixels, which can be different from the display aspect ratio. This is distinct from the standard display or image aspect ratio.
- Widescreen: A general term for displays or formats with an aspect ratio wider than the traditional 4:3, typically 16:9 or wider.
- Letterboxing: The black bars at the top and bottom of a screen that appear when a widescreen film is shown on a display with a less wide aspect ratio (e.g., showing a 2.35:1 movie on a 16:9 TV).
- Pillarboxing: The black bars on the sides of a screen that appear when content with a narrower aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3) is shown on a wider display (e.g., 16:9).
- Proportion (in the context of dimensions)
- Width-to-height ratio
- Maintain the aspect ratio: To preserve the original width-to-height proportion when resizing an image or video, preventing distortion.
- When you enlarge the logo, be sure to maintain the aspect ratio so it doesn't look stretched.
- Crop to an aspect ratio: To trim the edges of an image to achieve a specific width-to-height proportion.
- I had to crop the photo to a 16:9 aspect ratio to fit the slide template.
- the ratio of the width to the height of a tv picture