Ultrawide formats

comparison of common display resolutions

Ultra-wide or Ultrawide formats refers to photos, videos,^[1] and displays,^[2] with aspect ratios significantly wider than 2:1. There were multiple moves in history, towards a wider aspect ratio, including one by Disney.^[3] Some moves were successful, while others saw limited success.

Cameras usually capture ultra-wide photos and videos using anamorphic format lens, which shrinks the extended horizontal FOV while saving on film or disk.^[4]

Historic displays

Before monitors became a separate product line, televisions were used as monitors,^[5] for computers such as Timex Sinclair 1000.

4:3

4:3 was the aspect ratio used by 35 mm silent films. By having televisions match this aspect ratio, movies originally photographed in 4:3 could be satisfactorily viewed on TV.

NTSC (480i)

NTSC (National television Standards Committee) broadcasts were analogue analogue broadcasts, meant for NTSC analogue displays. It was developed in 1954 by the US, and implemented in US and US influenced countries. When converted to Digital Video format, DV NTSC has a 3:2 resolution of 720x480i running at 60 Hz

PAL (576i)

PAL (Phase Alternating Line) broadcasts were analogue broadcasts, meant for PAL analogue displays. It was developed in 1967 by United Kingdom & Germany, and implemented is most countries. When converted to Digital Video format, DV PAL has a 5:4 resolution of 720×576i running at 50 Hz

32:27

32:27 was originally developed for compressed video storage in cameras, meant to be displayed in anamorphic x1.5 as 16:9. 640×540i was such a 32:27 resolution running at 50Hz and 100Hz, meant for cameras.

Panasonic's DVCPRO HD^[6] with a resolution of 1280×1080i was latest in the line of 32:27 video formats for cameras. Hitachi's 42" and 50" 1280×1080i televisions, like the P50T501, were the last line of 32:27 consumer displays.^[7]

32:27 is derived from 4:3 aspect ratio.

${\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {2}{3}}={\tfrac {32}{27}}$

Historic Ultrawide Cinema

Historically ultrawide movie formats have varied between ~2.35:1, ~2.39:1, and 2.4:1. To complicate matters further, films were also produced in 2.55:1, 2.76:1 and 4:1. Developed by Rowe E. Carney Jr. and Tom F. Smith, the Smith-Carney System used a 3 camera system, with 4.6945:1 (1737:370) ratio, to project movies in 180°. ^[8] Disney even created a 6.85:1 format, using 5 projectors to display 200°. The only movie filmed in Disney's 6.85:1 format is Impressions de France.^[3]

Modern displays

Widescreen revolution

European widescreen

European widescreen format was a 5:3 (15:9) resolution of 800x480p and 1280:768p. Developed in 1969 by Rune Ericson, Super 16 mm was widely used used in Europe, before the move to 16:9.

16:10

16:9

Suggested by Dr. Kerns H. Powers of SMPTE in USA, the 16:9 aspect ratio was developed to unify all other aspect ratios. 16:9 was first adopted in the USA.

16:9 aspect ratio is 4:3 squared.

${\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {4}{3}}={\tfrac {16}{9}}$

Around 2007, cameras and screen began to switch from 15:9 and 16:10 to 16:9 resolutions. 16:9 is currently the worldwide standard for 'widescreen' aspect ratio.

Univisium revolution

Univisium is an aspect ratio of 2:1, created by Vittorio Storaro of ASC in USA, to unify all other aspect ratios. It is popular on Smartphones and cheap VR displays. VR displays half the screen into two, one for each eye. So a 2:1 VR screen would be halved into two 1:1 screens. Currently smartphones are moving to 2:1 aspect ratio, advertised as 18:9.

Ultrawide Cinema

21:9 is the rounded down aspect ratio for multiple anamorphic formats and ultrawide monitors, including 64:27 (21.3:9), DCI 1024:429 (21.482517:9), 24:10 (21.6:9), and 43:18 (21.5:9).

The 64:27 aspect ratio is the logical extension of the existing video aspect ratios 32:27, 4:3 and 16:9. It is twice the pixel width of 32:27, and third power of 4:3, where as 16:9 of widescreen HDTV is 4:3 squared. This allows electronic scalers and optical anamorphic lenses to use an easily implementable 4:3 (1.33:1) scaling factor.

$\tfrac{4}{3} \cdot \tfrac{4}{3} \cdot \tfrac{4}{3} = \tfrac{64}{27}$

21:9 movies usually refers to 1024:429, the aspect ratio of modern ultrawide cinema format, which is often rounded up to 2.39:1.

list of 21:9 monitor resolutions
Common Name	Technical name	Aspect ratio	Decimal value	Resolution
UW-HD	Ultrawide 1080p	64:27	2.370	2560×1080,
UW-UHD	Ultrawide 1440p	43:18	2.38	3440×1440
UW 4K	Ultrawide 1600p	24:10	2.4	3840×1600
UW 5K	Ultrawide 2160p	64:27	2.370	5120×2160
UW 10K	Ultrawide 4320p	64:27	2.370	10240x4320

Ultra-Widescreen 3.6

In 2016, IMAX announced the release of films in 'Ultra-WideScreen 3.6' format,^[9] with an aspect ratio of 36:10.^[10] A year later, Samsung and Phillips announced 'Super UltraWide displays', with aspect ratio of 32:9, for "iMax-style cinematic viewing".^[11] Panacast developed a 32:9 webcam with three integrated cameras giving 180° view, and resolution matching upcoming 5K 32:9 monitors, 5120x1440p.^[12]

32:9 aspect ratio is derived from 4:3, and twice as wide as 16:9:

${\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {2}{1}}={\tfrac {32}{9}}$

Ultra-WideScreen 3.6 video format didn't spread, as cinemas in an even wider ScreenX 270° format were released.^[13]

Screen X

Screen X 270° cinema concept

Developed by CJ CGV, Screen X uses three(or more) projectors to display 270° content,^[13] with an unknown aspect ratio above 4:1. Walls on both sides of a ScreenX theatre are used as projector screens.

Comparison

Decimal value	Aspect ratio	Format name	resolutions	Lens & Film
1.185	32:27	DVCPRO HD	640×540, 1280×1080	1x
1.25	5:4	DV PAL	720×576, 1280×1024, 1500×1200	1x
1.3	4:3	Video Graphics Array	640×480, 1440×1080, 1600×1200	-
1.5	3:2	DV NTSC	720×480, 1920×1280, 2400×1600	1x
1.6	8:5	Widescreen format (IT only)	1280×800, 1920×1200, 3840×2400	-
1.6	5:3	European Widescreen	800×480, 1280×768	Super 16mm
1.7	16:9	Widescreen format (unified)	1920×1080, 3840×2160, 7680×4320	Anamorphic 1.5x on 32:27
1.85:1	37:20	"Flat" DCI	1998×1080, 3996×2160	1x
1.896296	256∶135	"Full" DCI	2048×1080, 4096×2160	1x
2.0:1	2:1	Univisium	2160×1080, 4320×2160, 5760×2880	VR cameras (most)
2.3468...:1 ≈ 2.35:1	?	Cinemascope (1950s–1970s)	analog	Anamorphic 2x on 35mm with optical audio
2.370	64:27	"21:9" ultrawide	2560×1080, 5120×2160, 10240×4320	Dashcam, Anamorphic 1.25x on DCI 256∶135, 2x on 32:27
2.38	43:18	"21:9" ultrawide (IT only)	3440×1440	-
2.386946:1	1024:429	"Scope" DCI cinema format	2048x858, 4096x1716, 8192x3432	1x
2.4:1	24:10	"21:9" ultrawide	3840×1600, 5760×2400, 7680×3200	Anamorphic 1.33x
2.55	51:20	Cinemascope 55	analog	Anamorphic 2x on 35mm without optical audio
2.76	69:25	Ultra Panavision		Anamorphic 1.25x on 70mm
3.2	32:10	"29:9" ultrawide	3840×1200	-
3.5	32:9	Super Ultrawide (IT only)	3840×1080, 5120×1440	IT webcam
3.6	18:5	Ultra-widescreen 3.6	4320×1200, 5760×1600	1x

References

↑ A History of Widescreen and Wide-Film Projection Processes
↑ All About Ultrawide Monitors, the Latest Trend in Gaming and Productivity
1 2 p20, Sherlock, Daniel J. "Wide Screen Movies" Corrections, 1994–2004
↑ Red Camera: Anamorphic lens intro
↑ University of Virginia's Computer Museum
↑ Apple Final Cut Pro: DV Pro HD Format, Archived
↑ Hitachi P50T501
↑ Smith-Carney System
↑ "Voyage of Time: The IMAX® Experience in Ultra-Widescreen". IMAX.com. Dec 7, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
↑ Kristopher Tapley (Dec 5, 2016). "'Ultra Widescreen' Version of Terrence Malick's 'Voyage of Time' Set for Release". variety.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
↑ Super Ultrawide -Samsung News
↑ Panacast
1 2 Introducing Screen X, Cinema in 270 Degrees

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] A History of Widescreen and Wide-Film Projection Processes

[2] All About Ultrawide Monitors, the Latest Trend in Gaming and Productivity

[disney6.85-3] 1 2 p20, Sherlock, Daniel J. "Wide Screen Movies" Corrections, 1994–2004

[4] Red Camera: Anamorphic lens intro

[5] University of Virginia's Computer Museum

[6] Apple Final Cut Pro: DV Pro HD Format, Archived

[7] Hitachi P50T501

[8] Smith-Carney System

[9] "Voyage of Time: The IMAX® Experience in Ultra-Widescreen". IMAX.com. Dec 7, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

[10] Kristopher Tapley (Dec 5, 2016). "'Ultra Widescreen' Version of Terrence Malick's 'Voyage of Time' Set for Release". variety.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

[11] Super Ultrawide -Samsung News

[12] Panacast

[ScreenX1-13] 1 2 Introducing Screen X, Cinema in 270 Degrees