High definition explained

There are quite a few misconceptions around about the terms 'HD' and 'HD Ready' which we hope to set straight in this article. However before doing so, we feel it is important to emphasise that what makes a good film is not technology, but creative talent. Whatever talk there may be about the latest format, it is never more important than the content. Ask yourself when you look at old movies or photos, do you look at the technology or the content? Therefore whilst new technology can seem exciting, it does not play a significant a role in the enjoyment of your video as many other things.

That said, it is helpful to be aware of recent changes in technology so you can understand the impact it has upon your video project. Firstly, the term 'High Definition' (HD) does not refer to a single standard, but a range of standards. It is a bit like grouping all digital cameras with 1 to 3 megapixel resolution and calling them standard definition, and then all 4-8 megapixel cameras are 'high definition'. In television standard definition refers to the screen resolution which is '480i' (in the US) or '576i' (in the UK). This figure refers to the number of vertical lines on the screen combined with a horizontal resolution of 720 or 704 pixels. (Incidentally i identifies it as an 'interlaced' resolution which is now considered inferior to progressive scanning which is denoted by p). Up until the last few years, most us would have had television sets with a tube (CRT) which was perfectly suited to this resolution. However the arrival of flat screen televisions has changed this because of their ability to offer higher resolution. (Although some will argue that CRT televisions are in fact better than flat screens and that a higher resolution is necessary to match the picture quality).

High definition television therefore covers a higher range of screen resolutions. Specifically, these are 720p (720 lines by 1024 pixels although can also be 1280 or 1366 pixels); 1080i often described as broadcast HD (1080 lines by 1280 pixels); 1080p full definition used for studio movies (1080 lines by 1920 pixels) and 2160p described as QuadHi-definition (2160 lines by 3840 pixels). However, screen resolution probably won't stop there as there is talk of launching an even higher platform called SuperHi-Definition in Japan by 2015. The reason for mentioning this is merely to illustrate and forewarn that 'high definition' is not likely to last and we shall be reaching into our pockets for some time!

At this point, it is worth also explaining that the benefits of high-definition can only be enjoyed if you have the right technology at home. Not all flat screen TVs are the same resolution and the chances are that unless you are prepared to spend a lot of money, you won't benefit from the higher resolutions. Another important consideration is your DVD player. Standard DVDs only have a capacity of 4.7GB which is insufficient for holding high-definition movies. For this you need Blu-ray disks which have a capacity of 25GB. This means that if we shoot a film in high definition and then supply it on a standard DVD, your will only partially benefit as some of the quality will be lost in the final delivery. Of course few people own Blu-ray players which is why at Bloomsbury Films we usually film in 1080i but convert the footage to standard definition in the edit since most clients prefer standard definition DVDs. Obviously this is fine for most people, however you should be beware of anyone claiming to deliver your film high-definition unless you are getting your film on Blu-ray.

In summary our advice is that unless you are a connoisseur and have invested in a High Definition Television and have a Blu-ray player, then you shouldn't worry about formats. If you do have the technology, then we shall be delighted to supply your film in high-definition, however there is a small surcharge to cover the additional costs of Blu-ray encoding and production. Whatever you decide, we are confident that when you look back on the film in 10 years, you won't be looking at the format as much as the content. Perhaps also by then we shall be having our films made in 3-D anyway!