A Guide to Choosing the Right Video Resolution

Choosing the right resolution for your video can make a huge difference in its overall quality, especially when played back on larger screens. You may want to consider what resolution you want to shoot in as well as the resolution you want to save your product in after editing. Ready to learn more about the importance of video resolution and how it can impact your video?

What is Video Resolution?

Video resolution is defined as the specific number of pixels that can be displayed in each dimension, usually expressed as width x height. Video resolution may also be expressed in standard definition (SD), which is usually 640×360 and 640×480, versus high definition (HD), which is usually 1280×720 (720p) or 1920×1080.

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Why is Video Resolution Important?

The resolution you choose for your video is critical for a number of reasons. High-resolution video offers a clearer, crisper image that can contain more detail. At the same time, however, you may not be able to show video at a high level of resolution on a mobile device, which may lose quality due to the processing power of the device or the size of the screen. A high-resolution video looks professional and put-together, while a low-resolution video may appear of poor quality, unprofessional, and unfinished.

That does not always mean, however, that you want to put together videos in the highest possible resolution. Sometimes, you may want to decrease the resolution to create a smaller overall file, which may transfer more easily or play faster on mobile devices.

How to Choose the Right Resolution for Your Video

In order to choose the right resolution for your video, ask these key questions.

1. What do you plan to use the video for? If it's primarily for sharing across mobile devices, for example, you may want to shoot and save in a lower resolution than if you're planning to put it up on your website.

2. How much detail does your video need to show? The more detail you want to include, the higher the resolution you may want to use for your video.

3. Do you need to send the video to someone else? How do you plan to send it? File size limitations on emails and file-sharing options may limit the quality of your videos.

How to Change Video Resolution

You may shoot your video in high definition but discover that you don't need it to be quite that detailed. For example, you might shoot in 4K video resolution or even 8K video resolution, only to decide that your video, at most, will be displayed on YouTube, which currently has a max HD video resolution of 1080p. While you can always take the resolution of your video down to lower quality, taking it up to a higher quality can prove more difficult since the level of detail you want simply isn't in the source file.

In order to change video resolution, take a look at your video editing software or use a video resolution converter. An effective converter will allow you to select your file, choose your preferred future format, and make the conversion to smaller file size. In some cases, you may want to make sure that you save the original file as a backup so that you will retain a copy with the original quality.

Conclusion

Video resolution is an important element in creating a professional-quality video or sharing video content with your friends for fun. Check out VideoStudio today to start editing your videos in high definition or to convert your videos to a more effective resolution to reduce file size.

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