Advanced Interactive Media/Determining Project Pixel Size for Various Digital Medias

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Jump to navigation Jump to search

How big should it be? Pixel frame sizes for various media formats[edit | edit source]

When producing digital visual media (stills or video) one of the first perplexing, yet relatively simple problems encountered is related to the question of pixel size dimensions. "How big should my project frames be for computer screens, the web, DVD, Podcasting, HD DVD, etc.?

Below are three URL links that provide good explanations. Be sure to notice the squeezing effect that occurs when projects move from screens with square pixels to those with rectangular pixels.

Computer Monitors[edit | edit source]

15" - 640x480
17" 800x600
19" - 1024-768
Newer, wide screen 22" monitors becoming common around 2007: 1440x900

Standard Definition Video[edit | edit source]

350×240 (260 lines): Video CD
330×480 (250 lines): Umatic, Betamax, VHS, Video8
400×480 (300 lines): Super Betamax, Betacam (pro)
440×480 (330 lines): analog broadcast
560×480 (420 lines): LaserDisc, Super VHS, Hi8
670×480 (500 lines): Enhanced Definition Betamax

Digital Formats[edit | edit source]

720×480 (520 lines): D-VHS, DVD, miniDV, Digital8, Digital Betacam (pro)
720×480 (400 lines): Widescreen DVD (anamorphic)
1280×720 (720 lines): D-VHS, HD DVD, Blu-ray, HDV (miniDV)
1440×1080 (810 lines): HDV (miniDV)
1920×1080 (1080 lines): D-VHS, HD DVD, Blu-ray, HDCAM SR (pro)
10,000×7000 (7000 lines): IMAX, IMAX HD, OMNIMAX

More Information About Screen Sizes and Pixel Dimensions[edit | edit source]

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/118003.html
http://www.gregl.net/videophile/anamorphic.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_resolution