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Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 1 / 1.90:1 (IMAX Digital Aspect Ratio)
Definition
1.90:1 is a picture approximately 1.90 units wide for every unit high. It is associated with many digital IMAX presentations and is close to the shape of the full 2048 × 1080 or 4096 × 2160 digital-cinema raster.
The full-raster ratio is about 1.896:1, conventionally rounded to 1.90:1. That shape is not exclusive to IMAX, and a file with those dimensions does not automatically qualify as an IMAX release.
Comparing the Frame Shapes
At a fixed picture width, 1.90:1 is slightly shorter than 1.85:1 and taller than 2.39:1. The 1.43:1 IMAX frame is considerably taller than 1.90:1 at that same width.
An expanded IMAX sequence may show more image above and below a wider theatrical composition. Whether that happens depends on the source material, creative decisions and prepared release version. A theatre label alone does not establish which parts of the source image are visible.
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Capture and Exhibition Are Different Decisions
A camera can record a large or tall image area that later supplies several aspect ratios. The production protects the intended compositions with frame guides, then editorial and finishing prepare the correct versions for each destination.
For example, a location scene may be composed to work in both a wide theatrical extraction and a taller IMAX version. The expanded view must still exclude equipment and preserve intentional production design. It is not simply an invitation to reveal every recorded pixel.
What to Confirm in Post
- Which shots or sequences use an expanded ratio.
- Whether the source includes the necessary picture area.
- The approved crop and positioning for each release.
- How graphics and visual-effects shots adapt to different boundaries.
- The delivery container and playback specification.
A project can also change aspect ratio during a film. That should be a deliberate creative and technical decision, consistently represented in editorial references, visual effects and final masters.
Common Misunderstandings
Do not equate 1.90:1 with a specific resolution or assume that every digital IMAX screen shows 1.43:1. Resolution, projection capability, source format and active picture shape are separate parts of the presentation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.90:1 the same as 16:9?
No. A 16:9 picture is approximately 1.78:1.
Does a 4096 × 2160 file contain only a 1.90:1 picture?
Not necessarily. Its active image may occupy a smaller area within the raster, with borders around it.
Related Terms
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