SmX Cinema Solutions :: Projector Screen Aspect Ratios

ASPECT RATIOS

SmX builds projection screens to any size and aspect ratio requested.
Below are some of the aspect ratios that are commonly used in the US and Europe.

Which Aspect Ratio is Best for You?

Today, the most commonly sold aspect ratios screens for home theaters are 1.78:1 (16:9) and now growing 2.35:1 (CinemaScope). 16:9 aspect ratio screens are a perfect match to todays HD video projectors.

To figure out what aspect ratio may be best for you, you may consider the following.

If you are building a dedicated room geared mostly towards movie watching, then we would suggest a 2.40/2.35 Aspect Ratio screen since this is what most movies are usually shot in. However, when you watch 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio content on your 2.35/2.40 projection screen, you will have black bars on the left and right of the projected image. If you incorporate a video scaler and anamorphic lens, you can do a constant image height set up with this aspect ratio and gain 33% more resolution and up to 20% more light from your projector.

If you are purchasing a screen for a media room or primary viewing of HDTV channels and video game playing, then we would suggest a 1.78:1 (16:9) projection screen. However, when you watch 2.35 & 1.85 movies you will have black bars above and below your projected image. When watching 4:3 content, you will have black bars on the sides of your projected image.

If you can't decide on which aspect ratio is best for you, we offer the ProMask Video Masking Systems which masks your projection screen off to all aspect ratios.

1.33:1 (4:3)
Also referred to as 4:3, Standard Definition, NTSC or Academy. This aspect ratio is becoming the aspect ratio of the past as 16:9 HD (High Definition) is becoming the new medium. Many classic movies were made in this aspect ratio.

The 4:3 ratio for standard television has been in use since television's origins and has been used for many computer monitors. 4:3 is the aspect ratio defined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a standard after the advent of optical sound-on-film. By having TV match this aspect ratio, films previously photographed on film could be satisfactorily viewed on TV in the early days of the medium (i.e. the '40s and the '50s). When cinema attendance dropped, Hollywood created widescreen aspect ratios (such as the 1.85:1 ratio mentioned later) in order to differentiate their industry from the TV.

	1.66:1 (5:3) Also reffered to as 5:3 and sometimes expressed more accurately as 1.67. This is the 35 mm European widescreen standard aspect ratio. This is not a standard aspect ratio in the USA.

1.78:1 (16:9)
Also referred to as 16:9, High Definition, HDTV or Widescreen. This is the international standard format of HDTV as used in the United States, Australia, Japan and Canada as well as in Europe on satellite and non-HD widescreen television (EDTV) PALplus. The 1.78:1 aspect ratio was the compromise between the 35 mm US and UK widescreen standard (1.85:1) and the 35 mm European widescreen standard (1.66:1)

This is now a standard aspect ratio in the USA and all HD projectors (720 or 1080) natively project at this Aspect Ratio. This is also one of the most popular choices for home theaters and media rooms when sports and gaming outweighs movie watching.

	1.85:1 Also known as the 35 mm US and UK widescreen standard for theatrical film. This is an aspect ratio allot of past and recent films were shot with. It was widely used to save money on film stock while shooting. This aspect ratio is slightly wider than 1.78:1.

2.35:1 (CinemaScope)
This is the 35 mm anamorphic standard prior to 1970, used by CinemaScope ("'Scope") and early Panavision. The anamorphic standard has subtly changed so that modern anamorphic productions are actually 2.39 (2:40:1) but often referred to as 2.35 anyway due to old convention.

A majority of major released films use this aspect ratio and this is why most people choose this aspect ratio screen when building a dedicated home theater where movie watching out weighs sports and gaming. This aspect ratio is much wider than the HDTV 1.78:1

2.40:1 (CinemaScope)
Often referred to as “Filmed in Panavision” or 'Scope. This is the 35 mm anamorphic from 1970 onwards. Really 2.39:1 but usually rounded up to 2.40:1.
A majority of major released films released after 1970 use this aspect ratio. This is why most people choose this aspect ratio screen or 2.35:1 when building a dedicated home theater where movie watching out weighs sports and gaming.

(Note that anamorphic refers to the compression of the image on film to maximize a standard 4 perf academy area but presents the widest of aspect ratios.)

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