Datasheet

18 ■ Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D
You’ll adjust your final render size to suit the final medium for which you’re creating
the animation. Table 1.1 lists some standard resolutions.
Name Size NoteS
VGA (Video Graphics Array)
640
×480
Formerly the standard computing resolution and still a
popular television resolution for tape output.
NTSC D1
720×486
The standard resolution for broadcast television in North
America.
NTSC DV
720×480
Close to the NTSC D1 resolution, this is the typical resolu-
tion of digital video cameras.
PAL (Phase Alternation Line)
720×586
The standard broadcast resolution for most European
countries.
HDTV (High Definition TV)
1920×1080
The emerging television standard, sometimes also
referred to as 1080i (interlaced frames) or 1080p (pro-
gressive frames).
1K Academy (1K refers to 1000
pixels across the frame)
1024×768
Typically the lowest allowable resolution for film produc-
tion at Academy ratio (see Table 1.2). Because film is an
optical format (whereas TV is a raster format), there is no
set defined resolution for film. Suffice it to say, the higher
the better.
2K Academy (2K refers to
2000 pixels across)
2048×1556
Most studios output CG for film at this resolution, which
gives the best size-to-performance ratio.
4K Academy (4K is 4000 pixels
across)
4094×3072
A high resolution for film, used for highly detailed shots.
Any discussion of resolution must include the matter of aspect ratio. Aspect ratio is the
ratio of the screen’s width to its height. Aspect ratio standards are shown in Table 1.2.
Name Size NoteS
Academy Standard 1.33:1 or 4:3 The most common aspect ratio. The width is 1.33 times
the length of the height. This is the NTSC television
aspect ratio as well as the aspect ratio of 16mm films and
some 35mm films, including classics such as Gone with
the Wind.
Widescreen TV 1.78:1 or 16:9 With HD and widescreen TVs gaining popularity, the
16:9 standard is commonplace now. This aspect is used
in HD programming and is also the aspect ratio of many
widescreen computer monitors and laptops. This aspect
is very close to the way most films are displayed (1.85:1,
as shown next).
Widescreen Film (a.k.a.
Academy Flat)
1.85:1 The most-often-used 35mm film aspect today. When it’s
displayed on a television, horizontal black bars appear
above and below the picture so the edges aren’t cropped
off (an effect called letterboxing).
Anamorphic Ratio 2.35:1 Using an anamorphic lens, the image captured to 35mm
film is squeezed. When played back with a projector with
an anamorphic lens, the image is projected with a width
at 2.35 times its height. On a standard TV, the letterbox-
ing is more severe to avoid cropping the sides.
Table 1.1
Typical video
resolutions
Table 1.2
Aspect ratio
standards
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