Resolution

Resolution defines how many pixels make up each frame of video. Common resolutions include 1920x1080 (Full HD or 1080p), 2560x1440 (QHD or 2K), 3840x2160 (UHD or 4K), and 7680x4320 (8K). Higher resolutions contain more pixels, which means more detail, sharper images, and the ability to display on larger screens without visible pixelation. However, higher resolution also means larger file sizes, greater storage needs, and more demanding processing requirements.

The choice of shooting and delivery resolution depends on the project's intended use. Social media content may be perfectly served at 1080p, while a cinematic production destined for theatrical release might shoot in 6K or 8K. Many productions shoot at a higher resolution than their delivery format — for example, shooting 4K for a 1080p deliverable — because the extra resolution provides room for cropping, stabilization, and reframing in post-production without quality loss.

When specifying deliverables for a video project, resolution should be considered alongside other factors like aspect ratio, bitrate, and codec. A 4K video at an insufficient bitrate may actually look worse than a well-encoded 1080p video. Resolution is one piece of the quality puzzle, and a good production team will optimize all parameters together to achieve the best possible result for the intended viewing context.