Have you ever printed a photo only to find your head chopped off? Or uploaded a banner that looks stretched and weird? You fell victim to the Aspect Ratio.
What is Aspect Ratio?
It is the relationship between the width and height of an image. It's usually written as two numbers, like 16:9.
- 1:1 (Square): Instagram posts, profile pictures.
- 4:3 (Standard): Old TVs, most digital cameras, Micro Four-Thirds sensors.
- 3:2 (Classic): 35mm film, DSLRs/Mirrorless cameras.
- 16:9 (Widescreen): HDTVs, YouTube videos, modern phone screens (held sideways).
- 9:16 (Vertical): TikTok, Instagram Reels, phone screens (held upright).
Resolution vs. Ratio
Resolution is the actual count of pixels (e.g., 1920x1080). Ratio is the shape.
An image that is 100x100 pixels has a 1:1 ratio. An image that is 5000x5000 pixels also has a 1:1 ratio. You can crop high-resolution images to different ratios, but you can't magically change the ratio without cropping (cutting off parts of the image) or stretching (distorting the image).
Pro Tip: Always check the required aspect ratio before you start designing!