Department Of Communication Studies,Sppu,Pune.

Media Technology.
Assignment 1.

Image Basics
Screen Size

Resolution

Aspect Ratio

By
Omkar R. Pardeshi
Under the guidance of
Prof.Akash S. Dhopeshwarkar.

Pixel Density

Image Basics: Screen Size, Resolution, Aspect Ratio, Pixel Density

We always have images around us. In our day to day life we can see various images. Our world
has been dominated by the different kind of shapes, structures, lines, colors and many other factors, which
creates images. And with the invention of the screens like Television, Film Theaters, we can easily see the
images from different parts of globe with few single clicks and very minimum effort. But theres
something more which affects all this images, which we receive through our televisions or other screens.
There are few basic factors which every image contains or follows. And they affects our experience of
seeing the images. Not directly but, subconsciously.
Now,As mentioned above in the title,there are four basic factors. Some of them forms the image
in the way they are and some of them helps to presents them in specific way. Those Four Basic factors
are, 1.Screen Size. 2.Resolution. 3.Aspect Ratio. 4.Pixel Density. Now we will begin with the first
factor called as Screen Size.

Screen Size.

When we talk about the screen size or display size,Our focus shifts to the most popular
screen which is Television. But, now a days it is closely chased by the mobile screens. Commonly it is
considered that, bigger the screen size,better the picture or image quality. But, thats not the truth.
If we talk about the screen size we immediately get few figures in our mind if we talk about
Television, like 21in, 32in,50in,60in,and many other figures. Also we get something like
3in,4in,5in,5.5in,6in,7in,11in,13in if we talk about mobile phones and tablets. Now the point is when we
talk about this numbers we should know that these numbers are representing the physical size of
particular display, And not the size of the actual image we see on that screen. We cannot get the bigger &
better size picture, if we get the bigger screen. There are few other factors which works on that. Also,
when we measure the size of any screen we measure it diagonally. Yes, We measure it from corner to
corner, which are in opposite direction. Physical size of the screen or display is never measured in terms
of width or height. It is always a diagonal measurement. Whether it is Television or mobile or tablet or
theatre screen or any other two dimensional display which shows images. So,It can be differentiated from
Physical image size and logical image size.

So, one can remember that the screen size is a term which is not directly related to the actual
image size.but to the physical size of the display. And it is always measured diagonally.

Now,lets move to another imaging basic called as Resolution.

Resolution.

While transferring any film or clicking photos through mobile phones is very casual activity.but,
getting all this images in a good resolution was always expected.when a particular image irritates us, we
try to look its property settings where we look for its resolution first. We always want our data like images
& videos in High Resolution. But what actually resolution is?
Each image whether it is still or moving, carries dots on it like a paper.all the dots on it also
contains specific information within. An information of colors which forms together that specific image.
And these dots on screen are known as pixels.every image contains pixels in it.then what is the relation
between pixels and the resolution? And the answer is, The number of pixels in each dimension on image
is a resolution of that image. If we simplify this then,we can say that the number of horizontal pixels
multiplied by number of vertical pixels. Which gives us the total number of the pixels on image.and it is
known as the Resolution of that image.
For instance, if we talk about a particular wall and imagine it as an image,then we can simply
calculate its resolution by counting the number of horizontal bricks and can multiply that number by the
total number of vertical bricks.which will ultimately give us the total number of bricks on that wall.and it
is nothing but the resolution of the wall.
All the images,whether it is still or moving,follows same principle while calculating its
resolution.some resolution values in terms of televisions are, 480p- which is 720x480,means 720
horizontal pixels multiplied by 480 vertical pixels.
Also,720p(1280x720),1080p(1920x1080),4k(3840x2160). However higher the resolution does not mean
the higher image quality. The image quality depends on various factors.which we will discuss further.
However another factor that affects the look and presentation of the image is Aspect Ratio.

Aspect Ratio.

This term is not very popular with the common people in india till now. However it is one of the
most important factor which affects the image but remains unnoticed in our households. While we are
talking about the Aspect Ratio of image on screens, it is the proportional relationship between the width
and height of the image. This factor is very different than the screen size. Both, Screen size and aspect
ratio are different concepts. Aspect ratio deals with the actual image, however the display size deals with
the physical size of screen or display.
Suppose,we have an image which has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It means that the aspect
ratio of that image will be 16:9.
But, how it came? As we said above the aspect ratio is proportional relation with width and
height. So it becames 1920/1080=96/54=48/27=16:9.
If we have the image with resolution of 720/480 it will be,720/480=36/24=12/8=3:2., and the
resolution of 1440/1080 will be 4:3 with same calculation. Which means the image which we see on
screen could have different aspect ratio than the screen size.and sometimes we get black bars on our
televisions.because the aspect ratio of our television dosent match with the aspect ratio of the transmitted
signal. Howevertere are many ratios used in the industry.different for films and different for televisions.
Our old crt tvs and monitors have native aspect ratio of 4:3 and those new flat screen leds and lcds are
now coming up with the 16:9 ratio. Old films are also presented in the ratio of 4:3.

The size of screen may be 21in but it can easily show the pictures with the different aspect ratio.
But of course image gets hurt and we dont even notice,but it happens. Now the aspect ratio does not
changes the quality of image. but,the last factor we are about to talk has that capability.

Pixel Density.
And now the most important part from my perspective for any image is Pixel Density. We
already discussed what a pixel is? Now this term talks about its quantity in a particular area in simple
terms. The number of pixels in one inch area of the the screen. And why is it necessary for the quality of
image? Because it decides the quality of image in terms of colour and sharpness and clarity.more pixels in
the one inch area more color information it has in it. And more details and clarity it will carry.
It can be connected with the physical size of the screen.if the screen size of a particular device is
small and another screen which is bigger than it will show less clear and detailed picture than the small
screen. Because the density of pixels will decrease the moment we shift the screen size from small to
large. It will be like if we assume that we have two plates one small and one big like these images.these
plates are our screens. Now we will put the same amount of grains in both the plates which are our
pixels.and spread them across the plate as image behaves on actual screen. and lets see what happens?

High Pixel(grains!!!)Density.

Low Pixel(grains!!!)Density.

And thats exactly happens with the screens with different sizes.same amount of pixels gets
spreads all over and we call it pixelated image.first image has high pixel density but second one has very
less in comparison with it.it will be more pixilated if we will get more bigger plate.
Pixel density is always measured with the ppi,that is pixel per inch.some smart phones today are
breaking the barriers and chasing the mark of 500ppi.
So,these are the image basics which are very important while looking at the images on different
screens.