Aspect Ratios

The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the screen to the height of the screen. This effects how  film and TV is filmed. A standard television, for example, has an aspect ratio of 4:3, while a widescreen television has an aspect ratio of 16:9. 4:3, i.e. four units wide by three units high. So, for example, if the screen is 24 inches wide it will be 18 inches high. A widescreen set has an aspect ratio of 16:9, giving a 'letterbox' shape like that of a cinema screen. The programmes on most of the major TV channels are now in 16:9 format.