You may not be aware of this fact, but every frame, digital video, canvas, responsive design, and image often has a rectangular shape that is exceptionally precise in proportion (or ratio).
What is Aspect Ratio?
The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of its width to its height. For instance, if a rectangle has an aspect ratio of 2:1, then it is twice as wide as it is tall. Aspect ratios are commonly used for rectangles, especially screens and images. They are sometimes — though certainly not always — written with a decimal for the first number and the number 1 for the second number, which is untypical for ratios in mathematics. For instance, the aspect ratio for some widescreen films is 1.85:1.
How to calculate Aspect Ratio?
The aspect ratio formula is width divided by height: ratio = width / height. To use this formula, the width and height should have the same units, resulting in an aspect ratio that has no units.
Difference between aspect ratios 16:9 and 4:3?
Now we already know that the aspect ratio is the width to the height. i.e. a ratio of 16:9 means that the width is in a ratio of 16:9 to the height. So a width of 100 results in a height of 56. The same concept applies to the ratio of 4:3. We are surrounded by various decisions on aspect ratios every day. But why do Disney, Netflix, art galleries and creative minds use aspect ratios?
Why use aspect ratio?
- To give a more natural appealing appearance
- To have a scalable, responsible behaviour - important for the digital space.
- To translate a certain mood - design, movies like in Netflix
How do aspect ratios influence the design and layout of websites?
Aspect ratios are essential in web design, ensuring visual elements like images and videos scale properly across different devices without distortion. Common ratios such as 16:9 for videos and 4:3 or 1:1 for images help maintain consistency, making sure media retains its intended appearance regardless of the viewing platform.
Beyond enhancing media display, aspect ratios support responsive design by maintaining uniformity across user interfaces. This uniformity aids in navigation and enhances usability, particularly in grid-based layouts. Effectively using aspect ratios ensures that designs are not only visually appealing but also functional across various devices, contributing to a seamless user experience.
What aspect ratios does Instagram use?
Instagram supports multiple aspect ratios, including square (1:1), vertical (4:5), and horizontal (1.91:1). For Stories and Reels, a vertical (9:16) aspect ratio is preferred, optimizing content for full-screen mobile viewing.
What aspect ratios does Facebook use?
Facebook supports square (1:1), horizontal (16:9), and vertical (9:16) aspect ratios. While it offers flexibility, vertical videos are best suited for Stories to utilize the full mobile screen, whereas square and horizontal formats are ideal for regular feed posts.
What aspect ratios does X/Twitter use?
Twitter accommodates landscape (16:9), portrait (4:3), and vertical (9:16) aspect ratios. Landscape images are fully visible in the feed, while portrait and vertical images may be cropped but can be viewed fully upon interaction.
What aspect ratios does YouTube use?
YouTube uses a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 for all videos. Content in other ratios will be adjusted with letterboxing or pillarboxing to fit this standard, ensuring a consistent and professional appearance across devices.
What aspect ratios does TikTok use?
TikTok prefers the vertical (9:16) aspect ratio to match its mobile-first design, ensuring videos occupy the full screen of a smartphone and offer an immersive user experience.
What aspect ratios does Linkedin use?
LinkedIn is flexible with aspect ratios, supporting square (1:1), horizontal (16:9), and portrait (3:4) formats. Choosing the right aspect ratio depends on the type of content, with a preference for professional appearance tailored to a business audience.