Have You Made Your Video Resolutions?

Welcome to a new year! For many, a new year means a blank slate, a fresh start, a time to set goals and see how long they will last. Research shows that about 45% of American adults make at least one resolution every year[i]. Only about half of these resolutions are still maintained by mid-year, but it is one step closer to reaching goals. Most resolutions have to do with weight loss, money management, and quitting a nasty habit, but resolutions that are more fun and entertaining may be easier to keep.

Why not start to think about video resolutions! YouTube is one platform with a plethora of fun and informative videos that can keep a viewer entertained for hours. However, the way the video is presented depends on its quality, and the quality relies on the resolution of the video. YouTube video resolution could impact a video enough to make or break viral video status.

Video resolution correlates to the number of pixels displayed in an image on-screen. Image resolution can be identified by the width and height of an image and its aspect ratio. Videos on YouTube are played within a widescreen, 16:9 aspect ratio players. If the uploaded video is not in a 16:9 widescreen format, then YouTube will process the video to be displayed correctly, which entails adding “pillar boxes” or “letter boxes” around the video image[ii]. These boxes are the solid dark columns you see on each side of the video image.

Encoding Video with the Best Resolution

Once a video is filmed, it is usually edited using one of the following programs:

  • Windows Movie Maker
  • iMovie
  • Final Cut Pro
  • QuickTime Pro

Some of these programs include a function to automatically format and post the video to YouTube, but if you’re uploading a video outside of these programs, always upload a video at the highest resolution possible (16:9 is ideal, but 4:3 resolution is supported by adding pillar boxes). For best results, encoding video at 1080p, or “true high-definition”, currently yields the highest resolution available for video content. With 1080p high-definition (HD) video resolution, there is typically a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio.

Many who upload videos to YouTube can also do so through their mobile device. Some Smartphone cameras are capable of shooting video in an HD video resolution of 720p and certain mobile apps make it possible to export the video in full resolution to YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sites.

This year, make a resolution you can keep and share with others. Shoot a unique, informative, or simply entertaining video in high definition and upload it in the highest video resolution possible. You can even video chronicle keeping your other New Year resolutions and at least have something that will last all year.


Photo Credit: Microsoft Office Clip Art

[i] http://proactivechange.com/resolutions/statistics.htm

[ii] https://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1728590&topic=1719825&ctx=topic