Last Updated 1 day ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 1 / 1.66:1 European Widescreen
Definition
1.66:1 is a widescreen picture ratio approximately 1.66 units wide for every unit high. It is associated with many European theatrical films and with common Super 16 framing, although it is not exclusive to either.
The term ‘European widescreen’ describes a historical association. It is not a rule that European productions must use this ratio or that a film using it must have been photographed on film.
Where It Sits Between Other Formats
The 1.66:1 frame is wider than 1.37:1 Academy framing and narrower than 16:9, which is approximately 1.78:1. At a fixed picture width, it leaves more vertical space than 16:9 or 1.85:1.
That middle ground can suit a production wanting more room around a standing figure than a wider frame allows, while retaining horizontal space for an environment or another performer. The ratio offers a boundary for composition; it does not prescribe a particular emotional effect.
Advertisement
Framing for 1.66:1
Set the intended frame lines before judging lens choices and blocking. A camera may record an image taller or wider than the final composition, leaving room for stabilisation or alternate versions. The extra recorded area is not automatically part of the finished picture.
Consider a medium shot near a doorway. A 1.66:1 composition may retain more of the actor’s body than a wider extraction at the same width. If the production later crops to 16:9, the editor must check that hands, props and headroom still work.
Putting It Inside a 16:9 File
Preserving a narrower 1.66:1 picture inside a 16:9 container normally leaves small side bars. Filling the entire 16:9 frame instead requires cropping the top and bottom or changing the geometry. Stretching makes people and objects wider and should not be mistaken for a correct conversion.
- Confirm the exact intended ratio and active image dimensions.
- Distinguish the picture area from the dimensions of its delivery container.
- Keep frame guides consistent between camera, editorial and finishing.
- Check text, subtitles and graphics in the actual exhibition version.
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.66:1 the same as 16:9?
No. The numbers look similar, but 16 divided by 9 is about 1.78.
Does a Super 16 camera force a 1.66:1 release?
No. Capture format and final exhibition framing are separate decisions, with an appropriate extraction planned for the project.
Related Terms
Browse all terms starting with 1 or return to the filmmaking dictionary.