Last Updated 1 day ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 2 / 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
Definition
2.39:1 is a wide cinema aspect ratio, commonly called scope. The image is approximately 2.39 times wider than it is tall. It provides a broad horizontal frame for arranging people, movement and environmental detail.
The ratio describes the shape of the active picture. It does not identify a particular lens, camera, sensor size or number of pixels. Both anamorphic and spherical photography can be finished for scope presentation.
Common Scope Picture Dimensions
- DCI 2K scope: 2,048 × 858 pixels.
- DCI 4K scope: 4,096 × 1,716 pixels.
- 2.40:1: A common rounded description of scope; check the actual delivery specification.
- 2.35:1: A related historical ratio that is slightly taller at the same width.
Integer pixel dimensions do not always divide to a perfectly rounded decimal. Use the specified raster and framing instructions rather than creating a custom size solely to make a calculator display exactly 2.3900.
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Framing on Set
Display the correct scope guides in the viewfinder and on the monitors used to approve composition. A camera may record additional image above and below those lines, but the crew needs to know which area is intended for release.
A wide group composition can benefit from the extra horizontal room. A close-up may require more deliberate use of the empty side of the frame. Check headroom, eyelines and the placement of background detail instead of treating scope as black bars added after the shoot.
Spherical and Anamorphic Workflows
With spherical photography, a taller recording can be cropped to the required shape. With anamorphic photography, the recorded image must first be interpreted using the correct squeeze factor, then framed or cropped for delivery. A 2× lens on a 16:9 recording produces an uncropped desqueezed shape of roughly 3.56:1, not 2.39:1.
That example shows why lens choice, sensor mode and delivery ratio should be considered together. A suitable anamorphic recording mode can use the available image area more efficiently than an arbitrary crop.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the active picture with a larger file containing black bars.
- Using mismatched scope guides across camera, editorial and visual effects.
- Stretching footage to fill the shape instead of choosing a crop or correct desqueeze.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is every widescreen film 2.39:1?
No. Widescreen includes several ratios, including 1.85:1 and 2:1.
Can a scope film have a 16:9 delivery file?
Yes, if the required master carries the scope picture within a letterboxed 16:9 container.
Related Terms
Browse all terms starting with 2 or return to the filmmaking dictionary.