Ultrawide formats

Ultrawide formats refers to photos, videos,^[1] and displays^[2] with aspect ratios greater than 2. There were multiple moves in history towards wider formats, including one by Disney,^[3] with some of them being more successful than others.

Cameras usually capture ultra-wide photos and videos using an anamorphic format lens, which shrinks the extended horizontal field-of-view (FOV) while saving on film or disk.^[4]

Historic Ultrawide Cinema

Historically ultrawide movie formats have varied between ~2.35 (1678:715), ~2.39 (1024:429) and 2.4. To complicate matters further, films were also produced in following ratios: 2.55, 2.76 and 4. Developed by Rowe E. Carney Jr. and Tom F. Smith, the Smith-Carney System used a 3 camera system, with 4.6945 (1737:370) ratio, to project movies in 180°.^[5] Disney even created a 6.85 ratio, using 5 projectors to display 200°. The only movie filmed in Disney's 6.85 ratio is Impressions de France.^[3]

Wide aspect ratios

Suggested by Kerns H. Powers of SMPTE in USA, the 16:9 aspect ratio was developed to unify all other aspect ratios. Subsequently it became the universal standard for widescreen and high-definition television.

Around 2007, cameras and non-television screens began to switch from 15:9 (5:3) and 16:10 (8:5) to 16:9 resolutions.

Extra-wide aspect ratios

Univisium is an aspect ratio of 2:1, created by Vittorio Storaro of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) originally intended to unify all other aspect ratios used in movies.

It is popular on smartphones and cheap VR^{[clarification needed]} displays. VR displays halve the screen into two, one for each eye. So a 2:1 VR screen would be halved into two 1:1 screens. Smartphones began moving to this aspect ratio since late 2010s with the release of Samsung Galaxy S8, advertised as 18:9.

Ultra-wide aspect ratios

21:9 is a consumer electronics (CE) marketing term to describe the ultra-widescreen aspect ratio of 64:27 (211⁄3:9) = 1024:432 for multiples of 1080 lines. It is used for multiple anamorphic formats and DCI 1024:429 (21.482517:9), but also for ultrawide computer monitors, including 43:18 (211⁄2:9) for resolutions based on 720 lines and 12:5 (213⁄5:9) for ultrawide variants of resolutions based either on 960 pixels width or 900 lines height.

The 64:27 aspect ratio is the logical extension of the existing video aspect ratios 4:3 and 16:9. It is the third power of 4:3, whereas 16:9 of widescreen HDTV is 4:3 squared. This allows electronic scalers and optical anamorphic lenses to use an easily implementable 4:3 (1.33) scaling factor.

${\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {4}{3}}\cdot {\tfrac {4}{3}}={\tfrac {64}{27}}$

21:9 movies usually refers to 1024:429 ≈ 2.387, the aspect ratio of digital ultrawide cinema formats, which is often rounded up to 2.39:1 or 2.4:1

Ultrawide resolution can also be described by its height, such as "UW 1080" and "1080p ultrawide" both stands for the same 2560×1080 resolution.

Ultra-wide (UW) resolutions
common name	aspect ratio	resolution
WFHD	64∶27	2560×1080
WFHD	12∶5	2880×1200
WQHD	43∶18	3440×1440
WQHD	12∶5	3840×1600
UW4K	12∶5	4320×1800
UW5K (WUHD)	64∶27	5120×2160
UW5K	12∶5	5760×2400
UW6K	43∶18	6880×2880
UW7K	12∶5	7680×3200
UW8K	12∶5	8640×3600
UW10K	64∶27	10240×4320

Ultra-wide (UW) aspect ratios
decimal	simple	n∶9
2.370	64∶27	211⁄3∶9
2.38	43∶18	211⁄2∶9
2.4	12∶5	213⁄5∶9

Super-wide aspect ratios

In 2016, IMAX announced the release of films in Ultra-WideScreen 3.6 format,^[6]^{[failed verification]} with an aspect ratio of 18:5 (36:10).^[7] A year later, Samsung and Phillips announced 'super ultra-wide displays', with aspect ratio of 32:9, for "iMax-style cinematic viewing".^[8] Panacast developed a 32:9 webcam with three integrated cameras giving 180° view, and resolution matching upcoming 5K 32:9 monitors, 5120x1440.^[9] In 2018 Q4, Dell released the U4919DW, a 5K 32:9 monitor with a resolution of 5120x1440, and Phillips announced the 499P9H with the same resolution. 32:9 Ultrawide monitors are often sold as an alternative to dual 16:9 monitor setups and for more inmersive experiences while playing videogames, and many are capable of displaying 2 16:9 inputs at the same time.

32:9 aspect ratio is derived from 16:9 being twice as large. Some manufacturers therefore refer to the resulting total display resolution with a D prefix for dual or double.

Super wide resolutions refers to that with aspect ratio greater than 3.

Super-wide (SW) resolutions
common name	aspect ratio	resolution
DWXGA	16∶5	2880×900
DFHD	32∶9	3840×1080
DFHD	16∶5	3840×1200
SWFHD	18∶5	4320×1200
DQHD	32∶9	5120×1440
DQHD	16∶5	5120×1600
SWQHD	18∶5	5760×1600
16:5 5K	16∶5	5760×1800
32:9 6K	32∶9	6400×1800
18:5 6K	18∶5	6480×1800
DUHD	32∶9	7680×2160
DUHD	16∶5	7680×2400
18:5 8K	18∶5	8640×2400

Super-wide (SW) aspect ratios
decimal	simple	n:9
3.2	16∶5	28 4⁄5∶9
3.5	32∶9	32∶9
3.6	18∶5	32 2⁄5∶9

Ultra-WideScreen 3.6 video never spread, as cinemas in an even wider ScreenX 270° format were released.^[10]

4:1 (36:9)

Abel Gance experimented with ultrawide formats including making a film in 4:1 (36:9). He made a rare use of Polyvision, three 35 mm 1.3 images projected side by side in the 1927 film Napoléon.

AT NAB 2019, Sony introduced a 19.2-metre-wide by 5.4-metre-tall commercial 16K display.^[11]^[12] It is made up of 576 modules (48 by 12) each 360 pixels across, resulting in a 4:1, 17280x4320p screen.

Multi-Screen Theaters

Developed by CJ CGV in 2012, ScreenX uses three (or more) projectors to display 270° content,^[10] with an unknown aspect ratio above 4. Walls on both sides of a ScreenX theatre are used as projector screens.

Developed by Barco N.V. in 2015, Barco Escape used three projectors of 2.39 ratio to display 270° content, with an aspect ratio of 7.17. The two side screens were angled at 45 degree in order to cover peripheral vision. Barco Escape shut down in February 2018.

Comparison

Decimal value	Aspect ratio	Format name	Resolutions	Lens & Film
1.185	32:27	DVCPRO HD	640×540, 1280×1080	1x
1.25	5:4	DV PAL	720×576, 1280×1024, 1500×1200	1x
1.3	4:3	Video Graphics Array	320×240, 480×360, 512×384, 576×432, 640×480, 704×528, 720×540, 800×600, 960×720, 1000×750, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×960, 1440×1080, 1600×1200	SDTV
1.5	3:2	DV NTSC / laptops	720×480, 1920×1280, 2160×1440, 2256×1504, 2400×1600, 3000×2000	1x
1.6	8:5	16:10 widescreen (PC only)	1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600, 2880×1800, 3072×1920, 3840×2400	-
1.6	5:3	European Widescreen	400×240, 800×480, 1280×768	Super 16 mm
1.7	16:9	Widescreen	1920×1080, 2560×1440, 3840×2160, 7680×4320	Anamorphic 1.5x on 32:27, HDTV
1.618	16:10	16:10 Tallboy	640×400, 960×600, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, 2560×1600, 3840×2400	-
1.85	37:20	"Flat" DCI	2000×1080, 4000×2160	1x
1.8962	256:135	"Full" DCI	2048×1080, 4096×2160	1x
2.0	2:1	VistaVision / Univisium	2160×1080, 2400×1200, 2880×1440, 3200×1600, 3600×1800, 3840×1920, 4320×2160, 4800×2400, 5760×2880	VR cameras (most)
2.3468531	1678:715^[13]	Cinemascope (1950s–1970s)	analog	Anamorphic 2x on 35 mm with optical audio
2.370	64:27	"21:9" ultrawide	2560×1080, 5120×2160, 7680×3240, 10240×4320	Dashcam, Anamorphic 1.33x on 16:9, 1.25x on DCI 256:135, 2x on 32:27
2.386946	1024:429	"Scope" DCI cinema format	2048×858, 4096×1716, 8192×3432	1x
2.38	43:18	"21:9" ultrawide (PC only)	3440×1440, 5160×2160, 6880×2880	-
2.4	12:5	24:10 ultrawide	2880×1200, 3840×1600, 4320×1800, 5760×2400, 7680×3200	-
2.55	51:20	Cinemascope 55	analog	Anamorphic 2x on 35 mm without optical audio
2.6	8:3	Cinerama / 24:9 ultrawide (PC only)	1280×480, 2880×1080, 3840×1440, 5120×1920, 5760×2160, 7680×2880, 10240×3840	2х
2.76	69:25	Ultra Panavision	analog	Anamorphic 1.25x on 70 mm
3.2	16:5	32:10 super wide (PC only)	2880×900, 3840×1200, 5120×1600, 5760×1800, 7680×2400, 10240×3200	-
3.5	32:9	32:9 super wide (PC only)	3840×1080, 5120×1440, 7680×2160, 10240×2880	-
3.6	18:5	36:10 super wide (ultra-widescreen 3.6)	4320×1200, 5760×1600, 6480×1800, 8640×2400	1x
4.0	4:1	Polyvision	analog / 3 images 4:3 projected side by side	3x

References

^ A History of Widescreen and Wide-Film Projection Processes
^ All About Ultrawide Monitors, the Latest Trend in Gaming and Productivity
^ ^a ^b p20, Sherlock, Daniel J. "Wide Screen Movies" Corrections, 1994–2004
^ Red Camera: Anamorphic lens intro
^ Smith-Carney System
^ "Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience in Ultra-Widescreen". IMAX.com. Dec 7, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
^ Kristopher Tapley (Dec 5, 2016). "'Ultra Widescreen' Version of Terrence Malick's 'Voyage of Time' Set for Release". variety.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
^ super ultra-wide -Samsung News
^ Panacast
^ ^a ^b Introducing Screen X, Cinema in 270 Degrees
^ Waniata, Ryan (2019-04-10). "Sony's massive new MicroLED display stands 17 feet tall and packs 16K resolution". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
^ Dent, Steve (2019-09-13). "Sony's Crystal cinema display supports 16K, but could cost millions". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
^ "Wide Screen Apertures and Aspect Ratios". The American WideScreen Museum. October 17, 2000. Retrieved November 2, 2018.

[1] A History of Widescreen and Wide-Film Projection Processes

[2] All About Ultrawide Monitors, the Latest Trend in Gaming and Productivity

[disney6.85-3] 20, Sherlock, Daniel J. "Wide Screen Movies" Corrections, 1994–2004

[4] Red Camera: Anamorphic lens intro

[5] Smith-Carney System

[6] "Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience in Ultra-Widescreen". IMAX.com. Dec 7, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

[7] Kristopher Tapley (Dec 5, 2016). "'Ultra Widescreen' Version of Terrence Malick's 'Voyage of Time' Set for Release". variety.com. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

[8] super ultra-wide -Samsung News

[9] Panacast

[ScreenX1-10] Introducing Screen X, Cinema in 270 Degrees

[11] Waniata, Ryan (2019-04-10). "Sony's massive new MicroLED display stands 17 feet tall and packs 16K resolution". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2019-10-17.

[12] Dent, Steve (2019-09-13). "Sony's Crystal cinema display supports 16K, but could cost millions". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-12-18.

[13] "Wide Screen Apertures and Aspect Ratios". The American WideScreen Museum. October 17, 2000. Retrieved November 2, 2018.

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