It’s a very common question…what size should my web video be? The answer is pretty straightforward. But first you need to know two key ingredients to get it right. In this video I share these ingredients, plus best practices for web video size.
Video Review of the Swivl Personal Cameraman
Posted by Dave on May 4, 2012
Video Shootout – iPhone4 vs. iPhone4S vs. iPad2 vs. New iPad
Posted by Dave on Apr 13, 2012
How To Edit Video Using Photoshop CS6
Posted by Dave on Mar 23, 2012
How To Get Crystal Clear Screen Recordings On YouTube
Posted by Dave on Mar 16, 2012
Video Review of Avid Studio For The iPad
Posted by Dave on Feb 3, 2012
WVU #39 – Review Canon Vixia HF S10 Part 2
Posted by Dave on Jun 8, 2009
How To Make Your Web Videos Play On Both Browsers and Mobile Devices – WVU #104
Posted by Dave on Oct 14, 2010
Video Review of the Canon Rebel T2i – WVU #78
Posted by Dave on Apr 1, 2010
Video Review of Avid Studio – WVU #124
Posted by Dave on Apr 15, 2011
Review of the Kodak Zi8 – WVU #72
Posted by Dave on Feb 12, 2010
Tubemogul Destinations – What You Need To Know – WVU #81
Posted by Dave on Apr 23, 2010
How To Create Transparent Videos For The Web – WVU #73
Posted by Dave on Feb 19, 2010
What To Do If Someone Steals Your Videos
Posted by Dave on Sep 9, 2011
The Equipment I Use To Make The Videos You Watch – WVU #83
Posted by Dave on May 7, 2010
WVU #38 – Review: Canon Vixia HF S10
Posted by Dave on Jun 6, 2009
Thanks Dave,
I see you went a got yourself
a new photo background in this video.
It’s amazing how versatile the black
ground you use in previous videos is
and how it isolates you and the message
making it more powerful … at least
in my mind …..
My mom always said to try and learn something new every day and this completed that for the day.
Thank You again for your excellent knowledge. I was wondering why my videos were looking rather strange and now I know why and know how to fix the problem.
Once again you proved your are the best.
You mention that standard definition aspect ration is 4:3 and High definition is 16:9. I believe that 16:9 is widescreen rather than high definition. For example, the FS100 camcorder records in 16:9 and is still not high definition – did I miss anything? In this case, what would the highest recommended resolution for an FS100 be?
BTW, I enjoy your videos and find them valuable!
Thanks,
Ben
@Ben – Some standard definition cameras (or HD cameras that allow you to shoot in SD mode) let you choose your aspect ratio…4:3 or 16:9.
But when choosing 16:9 with a standard definition, your video will still be 720×480 (for NTSC), in most cases, you just get black bars across the top and bottom. It’s an artistic effect to make it kind of “look” like HD.
Resolution for standard definition video is 720×480 for NTSC and 720×576 for PAL.
Resolution for high definition video is 1920×1080 or 1280×720.
In other words, you’re not increasing your resolution by shooting SD video at 16:9…you still have the same number of pixels.
Thanks Dave for your quick explanation. I thought the 16:9 is a true AR. Learned from you once more!
Dave,
I stumbled across your site and have to say that I am truly impressed.
You offer a wealth of great info that a budding video-guy like me has been scouring the web for.
Kudos!!!
All Good Wishes,
michael
Hi Dave,
In an answer to Ben you mention about the black bars along the top and bottom of the picture.
I have those but shoot in 4:3 and am wondering how to get rid?
I’m in the UK using a Canon MD235 and Sony Vegas.
@Russell – First, since you’re in the UK, your camera format is PAL. So make sure your video project is set to PAL too.
You don’t say if the bars appear in your actual videos or in your videos that have been converted to Flash and play on the web. For videos on the web, if you don’t use the correct size in your embed code for the player, black bars can appear.
Thanks, Dave.
I’ve tried changing the project to all versions of PAL, including PAL DV in Vegas but that just makes it fuzzy.
The bars are visible in actual videos before putting on the web and even before rendering.
Here’s an example:
http://www.vimeo.com/5214685
If you stay to 4:22 on that video you’ll see that when I put up photos the top and bottom bar are gone. There is then a bar on the left and right but I know that’s to do with the sizing of the picture, so that’s no problem.
Just to confirm, I’m shooting the video in 4:3 on my camera – it’s just when it’s in Vegas those top and bottom bars show like it’s widescreen.
@ Russell – Your actual video footage is definitely 16:9. The MD235, by default, shoots standard definition at 16:9…which gives you bars at the top and bottom.
To shoot at 4:3, you have to go into the camera’s setup menu and turn “Widescreen” off. When you do that, you’ll have 4:3 and in your viewfinder, you’ll have black bars on the left and right of the video. But that’s only in the viewfinder, the actual footage will have no bars anywhere.
Dave, you’re absolutely right. I had it set to 4:3 in the VCR menu but in the Camera Menu widescreen was ‘on’, giving 16:9.
Many thanks.
The KIND of video it should be is an EPIPHEO
get yours from me! mb@epipheostudios.com
Thank you so much, exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks Dave,
Your clear and to the point video/instructions made the light go on.
How about another caveat, for best compression you should use a multiple of 16, as discussed here:
http://www.flashsupport.com/books/fvst/files/tools/video_sizes.html
Hi dave!
Thank you for the great info!:))
I have my video shot [documentary]with the resolution:3 720×576 PAL[that is what the clip settings says in FCP] , i have been trying different exports for my website -also tried 16:9 but the video of course looks way too stretched , Is there any way to export in 16:9 without any distortion , If not how can i make it widescreen? or if its not possible what frame size should i export in 720×540 , 640×480? Please help.
Thanks and regards
Dave, great video and very helpful. Thanks for putting it together.
Lance
Hi Dave, great video. Thanks for putting it together.