The term ‘resolution’ gets thrown around a lot -- but what does it actually mean? In this blog post, we’ll break down the definition, and explain three different resolutions that are most common in video production. (Key word being video -- photo resolution is different!)

What is resolution? 

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that appear and are captured in the video. The more pixels on-screen, the higher the resolution. 

What types of resolutions are there? 

• SD (Standard definition)

• HD (High definition)

• 4K or UHD (Ultra high definition)

SD (Standard Definition) refers to the lowest acceptable resolution for television or digital. 

• Often referred to as 480p (or lower)

• 640 x 480 resolution

• 307,200 pixels

As the name suggests, this definition was the standard for broadcast and television for many years. After technology improved, the next definition entered into the “standard” -- high definition. 

HD (High Definition) refers to the now standard resolution for television or digital. 

• 720p OR 1080p

• 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 resolution

• 921,600 or 2,073,600 pixels

As HD became the new standard, an even higher definition emerged. 

4K or UHD (Ultra High Definition) refers to the tier of resolution above HD. This has four times the lines of resolution.

• 2160p

• 4096 x 2160 resolution

• 8,847,370 pixels

What definition or resolution should my video be filmed in? 

Standard definition is becoming something of the past, with videos being filmed in high definition or ultra high definition. After all, the phones we carry around in our pockets now have various camera settings and options for filming in HD or 4K. Filming in 4K gives you the most versatility with your video.

So what can you do with video filmed in 4k definition for your next project? Reach out via email at [email protected] or give us a call at 1-800-273-2849 to chat about what would be the best fit for your video needs!

Follow @lightswitchvideo on Instagram for more video terminology and tips!