landscapeformat

Landscape format refers to an orientation in imaging, printing, and display where the width is greater than the height. It is the opposite of portrait format and is commonly used for scenes that are naturally horizontal, such as landscapes, panoramas, and most video content. The term is widely applied across photography, publishing, and digital media.

Common landscape aspect ratios include 3:2 and 4:3 for still photographs, and 16:9 and 21:9 for video and cinema. On printed and digital pages, landscape orientation is often used for wide layouts, spreadsheets, posters, and screens where a wider field of view enhances readability and composition.

In practice, landscape format supports horizontal composition, side‑to‑side interfaces, and panoramic views. It is default for many computer monitors, televisions, and smartphones when content is designed for wide viewing. Portrait formats are chosen for tall subjects or vertical displays.

Practical considerations include cropping, display safety margins, and device orientation. When creating content, designers decide between landscape and portrait based on subject matter, audience, and platform; many works offer both orientations or auto-rotate to optimize viewing.

Historically, landscape orientation aligns with the way human vision scans environments and with traditional painting and photography practices. The format remains standard for most publishing and media projects that prioritize horizontal composition.