Perhaps if you’ve just casually edited a video or explored video creation, chances are you would have come across the term ‘video aspect ratio.’ Or maybe you are curious to know the reason behind why some videos look incredible on one platform and stretched on the other.
This is where the need for video aspect ratio comes in.
Read below this comprehensive guide to explore everything you need to know about video aspect ratio, from the basics to picking up the best choice to cater to your needs. Also learn how you can create the best videos with the perfect aspect ratio.
What is the Video Aspect Ratio?
In simple words, the video aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of the video frame. It’s typically expressed as a ratio, such as 4:3 or 16:9, wherein the first number denotes the width while the latter represents the height of the video frame.
Importance of Video Aspect Ratio
In fact, video aspect ratio plays a big role in how your videos are perceived. Here are a few reasons to prove its importance in the video creation industry.
Platform Compatibility
Different platforms support different aspect ratios, which makes following these standards essential to ensure a seamless viewing experience.
For example, YouTube and TVs favor the 16:9 widescreen format, while Instagram Reels and stories follow the 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. Whereas, Instagram and Facebook posts work best with 1:1 square videos.
If the videos are not optimized for this ratio, your content may appear distorted or have black bars.
Viewer Experience
When it comes to providing the best visual experience to the audience, having the right aspect ratio becomes essential. It ensures the video fits perfectly on their screen and reduces any distractions, such as weird cropping or black bars.
The result?
The audience is hooked on the content rather than technical glitches.
And the best part?
According to a survey, videos that appear professional and are visually optimized increase watch time by up to 70 percent.
Professional Look
Picking up the right video aspect ratio is the standard of professional video creation. After all, no brand wants to leave an amateur impression with awkward cropping and distorted content.
Therefore, proper aspect ratio is essential when it comes to conveying attention in detail and ensuring your content looks sharp and professional on both widescreen and mobile devices.
In fact, over 54 percent of users say they trust brands that produce high-quality video content more. This figure further emphasizes the need for the correct aspect ratio in video creation.
Video Aspect Ratio vs. Video Resolution
One of the biggest questions is the difference between video aspect ratio and video resolution. So while aspect ratio defines the shape of your video, video resolution basically refers to the number of pixels that make up the video frame. To say, resolution defines clarity, while aspect ratio is more about proportion, but both work together.
Here’s a gist of a quick comparison between aspect ratio and video resolution.
Most Common Video Aspect Ratios
Here are some of the most popular video aspect ratios.
16:9 (Widescreen)
It’s commonly used on YouTube, TV screens, and most online platforms. It is considered the go-to ratio, especially for widescreen videos. In fact, 80 percent of YouTube videos are in 16:9.
4:3 (Standard)
The standard aspect ratio is primarily used in retro content and older TV shows. While it was once the gold standard of TVs, it is now used for nostalgia and recreation.
9:16 (Vertical)
This vertical format is used commonly in Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Snapchat and is exclusively designed for mobile-first audiences. And this ratio has reached heights in popularity, especially after the short-form video trends.
1:1 (Square)
The 1:1 square format is used mainly in Instagram and Facebook posts and ads, and works best on both mobile and desktop devices.
21:9 (Cinematic)
The cinematic aspect ratio is used primarily in movies and cinematic trailers. This ultra-wide aspect ratio works best for creating a dynamic and immersive experience for the viewers.
Different Video Resolutions As Per Their Use
After you have picked up the right video aspect ratio, it’s time to select the best resolution for your video content. Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common video resolutions and their uses.
Here’s a tip! For Instagram and TikTok, instead of focusing on video resolution, focus more on aspect ratio since most viewers are mobile-first.
How To Create Videos With Different Aspect Ratios?
While creating videos with multiple aspect ratios may feel challenging, it’s probably not what you think it is. In fact, with the best tools and some understanding, it’s easier than you think.
So if you’re shooting videos for YouTube, Instagram, or your next brand campaigns, here’s a comprehensive guide on how you can optimise aspect ratios based on your needs.
Determine The Platform
One of the most essential aspects is to determine the platform on which your video will be uploaded. This is because every platform has its preferred aspect ratios, such as 16:9 for YouTube and TV, 9:16 for Instagram stories and TikTok, and 1:1 format for Facebook and Instagram feed posts.
This will ensure you frame your shots correctly and reduce the editing workload later on.
The Right Camera Settings
Now, you can easily select aspect ratios on your cameras and mobile devices before recording. In fact, most smartphones offer a video mode setting, so you can set the one that best fits the platform’s needs.
Besides, even DSLRs and mirrorless cameras also let you choose aspect ratios through menu settings.
However, if you’re still in doubt, you can always choose the 16:9, as it’s one of the most versatile ratios, and crop it later based on specific needs.
Editing Software To Adjust To Multiple Aspect Ratios
The best part is you can adjust your videos with the help of editing software even if your footage isn’t shot in the desired ratio.
With applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, you can crop or adjust the canvas size to let your videos fit seamlessly into the frame.
You can even do letter boxing or pillar boxing to make the videos fit without distortion.
However, if you’re short on time, certain apps such as Canva, InVideo, and CapCut offer a drag-and-drop feature to help you resize your videos into different aspect ratios quickly.
Test Your Videos Across Different Platforms
Previewing your video across all the platforms on which it will be viewed, including smartphones, tablets, or desktops, is one of the most important approaches to ensuring top-notch video quality.
This way you can ensure your videos aren’t awkwardly cropped, all the texts and graphics are legible, and your videos fill the screen without any distortion.
Host Videos With Different Aspect Ratios On Enveu
When it comes to hosting your videos, Enveu is there to help you!
With Enveu you can effortlessly host your videos with multiple aspect ratios to ensure your viewers always get a premium viewing experience no matter the device or platform they’re streaming on.
Why Choose Enveu?
Here is why Enveu is among the best choices for video hosting.
1. Flexibility
Enveu supports multiple aspect ratios and video resolutions, so you don’t have to worry about the video quality.
2. User-Friendly Platform
The ease of use ensures a simple video hosting process for both naive and expert video creators.
3. Scalable
Perfect for creators, influencers, brands, and enterprises.
4. Trustworthy and Reliable
Secure hosting with excellent uptime makes it a platform you can rely on.
5. Get Assistance 24/7
Get support from our team of experts for all your queries.
Takeaway
While video aspect ratio may seem like a small detail, it’s indeed a game changer when it comes to video production. Not only does picking the right aspect ratio make your content look professional and sharp, but it also ensures it looks perfectly customised for your viewers.
With the best video hosting platforms, such as Enveu, hosting and delivering top-notch videos has never been easier. So the next time you hold your camera, know that a little attention to the video aspect ratio can make a big difference.
Ready to give your videos the stage they deserve? Get in touch with Enveu and take your content game to the next level.
