Beeldhoekverhouding

Beeldhoekverhouding, also known as aspect ratio, is a term used in photography, film, and television to describe the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image. It is typically expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9 or 4:3. For example, a 16:9 aspect ratio means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height.

Historically, the 4:3 aspect ratio was the standard for television broadcasting and many early films. This format is more square-like. As technology advanced and widescreen televisions became more popular, the 16:9 aspect ratio emerged and is now the dominant standard for modern television, computer monitors, and most digital video content. This wider format is often preferred for cinematic experiences and displaying more information horizontally.

Other aspect ratios exist and are used for specific purposes. For instance, the 2.35:1 aspect ratio is commonly used in widescreen cinema, offering a very broad field of view. In photography, common aspect ratios include 3:2 (often associated with 35mm film and DSLRs) and 1:1 (square format, popular with some medium format cameras and Instagram).

The choice of aspect ratio can significantly impact the composition and viewing experience of an image or video. It influences how the subject is framed and what visual information is included or excluded within the frame. Adapting content between different aspect ratios can sometimes involve cropping or letterboxing (adding black bars to the top and bottom) or pillarboxing (adding black bars to the sides) to maintain the original image's integrity.