Video Resolution: A Guide to Choosing the Right Video Resolution


Video resolutions are confounding for consumers and content creators alike. From standard definition (SD) to HD, Full HD, QHD, 4K, and now 8K, there are just too many of them. That much variety can also be overwhelming, especially for content creators who, in most cases, just want to create a nice-looking video. 

Do you need to shoot in 4K just to have a good-looking video? Here's our quick guide to video resolutions for content creators to help you get the best video quality for your needs. Read on. 

What is video resolution?

First things first, what is video resolution? Video resolution refers to the pixel quantity in the standard 16:9 aspect ratio. An aspect ratio is a proportional relationship between the width and height of a video. For instance, a video resolution of 1920*1080 simply means that the video is 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. And for the aspect ratio, 1920/1080 is 16/9. 

Why is video resolution important?

Video resolution defines the amount of detail in your video. A higher number of pixels makes for a high-resolution video and vice versa. Because they contain more pixels, high-resolution videos tend to be sharper and clearer. As you can see, video resolution affects the quality of your content, and who doesn't want to make great content?

How to choose the right resolution for your video

You've probably noticed that you have to specify the video resolution from the menu when shooting a video on your camera or even your smartphone. Here's a rundown of the various video resolutions that you can use and how to choose the best one for your project. 

  • 640 x 360 (360p). This video resolution is ideal for content meant to be viewed on mobile devices. It's basically only used for smartphone videos and will look blurry on larger screens. 
  • 852 x 480 (480p). This resolution is also known as Standard Definition (SD). Videos in 480p resolution play well on smaller screens such as laptops, desktop monitors, and small TVs.
  • 1280 x 720 (720p). True High-Definition starts at 720p. Many HD television channels broadcast at 720p video resolution. This resolution is ideal for web content such as YouTube, and 720p videos will look grea
  • 1920 x 1080 (1080p). You can shoot your videos at 1080p, also known as full HD, for an even higher resolution. This resolution is perfect for videos that will be viewed on larger screens such as HDTVs. 
  • 4K (ultra HD). Since more pixels on the screen mean a crisper image, the immediate benefit of 4K resolution is higher quality. But it's not always that obvious. In fact, most viewers can't tell the difference between FHD and 4K in terms of quality. 4K video resolution does introduce more flexibility in your editing. 

Video resolution affects how realistic or clear the video appears on the viewing device. However, video resolution is not the most important ingredient for video quality. In other words, don't expect your videos to look better just because you shoot in a higher resolution.

How to change video resolution

If you are wondering how to change video resolution in your videos, don't worry. Any powerful video editing tool such as Roxio Creator will allow you to change the resolution of your videos. Just select your preferred resolution and convert. 

Conclusion

Video resolution is simply the number of pixels that fit on a standard television, computer, or camera screen. Resolution affects the quality of your videos and, therefore, quite an important factor for content creators. The best video resolution will vary depending on the type of video you're shooting. If you want to edit and create the best footage for your purposes, go with the best resolution possible. 

Need to Download Roxio Creator?

Buy now Learn more