Aspect Ratio is a cinematography term in filmmaking. In virtual production, the nuances of this term take on special meaning. In this post, we break down the traditional definition and what you need to know about aspect ratio for virtual production.
Aspect Ratio is the ratio between the width and the height of an image or screen.
It describes the image proportions, and it is expressed by two numbers that represent the relative width and height of the image, such as 16:9 or 4:3.
Some common film/TV production aspect ratios are 1.85(flat), 2.35/2.39(scope/anamorphic), and 16:9.
While you might not always be able to choose the aspect ratio of your production—sometimes due to distribution requirements—it can have a great influence in your visual storytelling.
The image proportion will affect the cinematography decisions like staging and framing of every shot.