The quality of video on TV screens and monitors of new generations is getting better and better. Video resolution plays an important role in this. Increasingly, various advertising information about 4K video is beginning to appear in magazines and electronics stores. Today I propose to figure out what is 4K?

4K

The high-definition television standard 4K Ultra HD TV (or UHD TV) delivers high-definition images that are four times the 1080p Full HD standard that many of us already know. The pixel resolution of Ultra HD 4K at 16:9 aspect ratio is 3840 x 2160.

In reality, excellent image clarity is obtained, with excellent detail. Such an image on the TV screen is perceived in a new way.

The widespread use of the 4K standard requires the replacement of various studio television equipment and not only. Therefore, the introduction of 4K into our lives will take several years. TVs supporting Ultra HD resolution are already being sold, the only thing for them is that it is still difficult to find videos or films for them. Although something can already be downloaded on the Internet or bought on disks.

Even 1080p content looks much better on Ultra HD screens, so it's worth taking this into account when buying a new TV.

The YouTube service supports downloading and viewing videos in 4K resolution. In order to view the video in 4K resolution, you need to select the quality of 2160p in the player settings. To view such a video smoothly, you need a fairly powerful computer.

4k- this new standard resolution, designed for digital cinema and computer graphics. Its advantage is that it provides higher image quality, more detailed picture and is ideal for dynamic large format images.

Yes, another type of high-definition television has appeared on store shelves - 4K TVs. But, just like with 3D, there is almost nothing to watch in natural ultra-high definition on the screens of such TVs. 4K content is still catastrophically small. You can only use the hardware capabilities of 4K-capable AV receivers and upscaling FullHD content.

Sony has released a line of Blu-Ray discs called "Mastered in 4K". These discs do not contain 4K, but high-quality video in the familiar 1080p24 (Full HD) format with an increased average bitrate. The difference is that the sources for these releases will be fully prepared in 4K format without unnecessary conversions, which slightly increases the perceived detail. Sony says the "Mastered in 4K" discs, combined with Reality Creation's proprietary upscaling, produce picture quality that comes close to true 4K. These Blu-ray discs are already online.

The 4k format is so named because of its horizontal resolution (approximately 4,000 pixels) as opposed to the 1080p and 720p standards, which are named after their vertical resolution. The new 4k standard delivers more than four times the resolution of 1080p.

4K resolution is superior to the other standard - 2K - by about twice each side of the frame.

Since October 24, 2012, 4K resolution, also adopted for ultra-high definition television, has been designated as Ultra HD. The decision was made by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Changing the aspect ratio for 4k format achieved by changing the vertical resolution, while the horizontal remains fixed. For example, 4096×2304 is a frame size with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 4096×3072 is a 4:3 aspect ratio. The table shows examples of resolutions in 4k format:

YouTube has enabled support video in 4k resolution in the middle of 2010. The 4k format has great potential as it has the highest resolution available to the user. It is possible that in the near future this format will be popular in new YouTube services. The video below demonstrates a video sequence with a resolution of 4K, you just need to specify the resolution in the settings - Original.

4K and 3D resolution without glasses

Owners of a home theater with a 4K display should only despair due to the temporary lack of ready-made content. If you're tech savvy, you should consider the fact that a very large display is required to fully enjoy the high resolution. The slight difference between 4K and 1080p will be great for displays 55 inches and up. The main advantage that the consumer will gain after purchasing a 4K TV is improved.

Today, 4K resolution, namely TVs, are an expensive pleasure (250,000 - 300,000 rubles). The tendency to reduce the cost of these devices will not be observed over the next few years.

4K resolution support

The HDMI 1.4 specification already has support for 4K. New interface actually supports 2 formats, both of which are supported in the HDMI 1.4 specification:

• 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high
• 4096 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high

HDMI 2.0

By the way, HDMI 2.0 standard was introduced in 2013. latest version HDMI supports data transfer rates up to 18 Gbps, which is enough to broadcast 4K UHD (3840x2160) video at 50/60 frames per second. At 8.3 megapixels, each 4K UHD frame contains twice as much information as a 1080p (1920x1080) frame. The HDMI 2.0 standard supports up to 32 audio channels at sampling rates up to 1536 kHz.

Best of all, the new standard is compatible with older High Speed ​​(Category 2) HDMI cables and older connectors, so there's no need to upgrade your hardware. Other interesting features and differences HDMI 2.0 from previous standards:

• Simultaneous broadcasting of two video streams to multiple viewers on one screen.
• Simultaneous broadcasting of up to four audio streams.
• Support for screens with aspect ratio up to 21:9.
• Dynamic synchronization of video and audio track.
• CEC extensions for extended control and command transmission to electronic devices from a single control point.

HDMI 2.0 is expected to increase the maximum differential signaling with minimizing level differences (TMDS) by throughput channel from 3.4 Gb / s to 6 Gb / s, which will increase the total throughput of TMDS to 18 Gb / s. This will allow HDMI 2.0 to support Full HD 3D resolution at 120 frames per second and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (FPS). Other features expected for HDMI 2.0 include support for 4:2:0 (chroma subsampling), support for 25fps 3D formats, improved 3D capabilities, support for more than 8 channels of audio, support for HE-AAC and DRA audio standards and others additional functions. HDMI 2.0 was officially announced on September 4, 2013.

• Added support for 4K resolution (3840x2160) at 50/60Hz
• Added support for up to 32 audio channels
• The audio frequency has been increased to 1536kHz for the highest sound quality
• Simultaneous dual video streaming for multiple users on the same screen
• Simultaneous transmission of multi-stream audio to multiple users (up to 4)
• Added support for 21:9 aspect ratio displays
• Added dynamic synchronization of video and audio streams
• CEC enhancement provides enhanced control options consumer electronics with a single point of control

4K displays will bring high performance home theater systems on par with today's digital cinema projectors used in many commercial theaters. Staying true to its future-ready rule, the HDMI standard can now support these systems with the extremely high bandwidth that these multimedia systems may require.

How to make it work 4K on your home theater system

A display device that supports 4K resolution is required (monitor or TV, such as Sony X9000A Series or Philips 9000 Series model)

and playback device (for example 4K player - Sony FMP-X1 4K Media Player).

All high speed HDMI cables will support 4K resolution when connected to 4K capable devices. You can use your existing HDMI cables or choose new HDMI 2.0 cables.

I would also like to point out that 4K TVs now available from all well-known manufacturers: Sony, Samsung, Philips, LG, Toshiba and Panasonic. There are tablets with support ULTRA HD resolutions and even smartphones.

4K games

Nvidia has taken over 4K gaming. She announced that she would revolutionize gaming with 4K. UltraHD (4K) resolution is for 4K monitors with 3840x2160 resolution, which are not very popular among gamers today. This innovation is already available to owners of top PCs with select GTX series graphics cards.

Video cards with 4K support: SLI GeForce GTX 770, GTX 780 or GTX SLI TITAN. The more such video cards in a bundle on one PC, the better.

4K games: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Batman: Arkham Origins, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Watch Dogs.

“4K is really a new word, and once you see and feel the coolness of it, you won't want to go back to normal resolution. If you consider yourself a gaming enthusiast and have one of the most powerful PCs out there, then you should definitely try 4K.”

UHD TV models are getting cheaper

There is already a downward trend in prices for 4K TVs: in currently the cost of UHD models from Sony, Samsung and LG has dropped to 150,000-200,000 rubles, and Chinese counterparts can be purchased for as little as 50,000. In 2014, we will be surrounded by TVs with OLED screens and LCD models with 4K resolution(3840 x 2160 pixels). Previously, the purchase of 4K TVs on the market was the lot of geeks due to the very high price (even up to 1 million rubles). Starting in 2013, you can get very affordable models from Sony, Samsung, LG and other companies. Coming out by the end of this year a new version firmware for Sony X9 UHD TVs, thanks to which they will be able to play 4K video at 60 frames / s via HDMI (HDMI 2.0 standard requirements).

The Sony KD-84X9005 TV is the first device from a Japanese company with UHD resolution (screen diagonal size is 84 inches), available for purchase since the end of 2012 at a fabulous price of 1 million rubles. In 2013, models of the X9 line with diagonals of 55 and 65 inches appeared on sale, delighting users with excellent quality not only of the image, but also of the sound. Their recommended retail prices after a recent decline are $4,000 (135,000 rubles) and $5,500 (185,000 rubles), respectively, but in Russia they still cost 200,000 and 300,000 rubles. It is Sony that leads the 4K TV market (it took a market share of 37.8%). LG offers an 84-inch UHD TV: the 84LM960V model can be purchased for 600,000 rubles. More affordable devices with 55- and 65-inch screens (55LA9650 and 65LA9650) should be available before the end of this year.

Thanks to curved display LCD TVs Samsung standard Introduced at the recent IFA 2013, UHD enhances the viewing experience by keeping every point of the monitor equidistant from the viewer, minimizing distortion. In addition to these TVs, Samsung's product range includes 55- and 65-inch models (UE55F9000AT and UE65F9000AT costing 200,000 and 285,000 rubles), as well as 85-, 98-, and 110-inch devices. Despite the breadth model range Samsung controls only 4% of the UHD market so far.

First concave LCD TV

Samsung was the first to demonstrate Concave UHD LCD TV. The novelty is available in two versions - with a diagonal of 55 and 65 inches. The SE50UY04 model from the Chinese company Seiki Digital claims to be the "people's" 4K TV. in the US retail market this device available at a price of $1,500 (about 50,000 rubles). And the 39-inch 4K model SE39UY04 can be purchased for just $700 (23,500 rubles). Another Chinese company, Hisense, supplies the global market with both affordable UHD TVs, such as the 58-inch XT880 for $2,000 (67,000 rubles), and top-level devices costing at least 500,000 rubles.

Editor's Choice

Monitors with 4k resolution

Nowadays, technology is developing so fast that many may simply not have time to keep track of all the new items.

Producers compete among themselves for the buyer. Quality is becoming more and more in demand.

And even talking about monitors, the industry has changed so dramatically that old screens just don't even deserve a place on the desktop.

4k technologies have entered this segment, turning the perception of the image on its head.

Over the past six months, consumer sentiment has shifted slightly.

New models that came out ahead of schedule caused an unprecedented stir, they have a lot of interesting features and features.

Users have long been ready to pay additional funds.

But for them, they want to get premium quality, expandable features and huge potential.

It is for such users that today's review is focused. But, you need to understand that you will have to change the coveted screen after a maximum of 2 years. The market and the economy dictate new rules.

The advent of 4K monitors

More recently, a shift in the interest of manufacturers towards WQHD solutions was considered a novelty. Then the whole world started talking about the 16:9 aspect ratio.

But already at the last CES 2017 exhibition, it became obvious that companies were sharply interested in ultra-wide models.

After working behind such screens, few users will be ready to return to the old format displays.

The new 4k models are ideal for today's tasks. They are needed not only by specialists in the field of design, but also ordinary users, connoisseurs of quality.

The second know-how, which appeared at the beginning of last year, is with a vertical scan of 180-240 Hz.

Now these are the actual "hertz", hardware, not software. But only TN + Film models can boast of such a speed.

They are the best again, deprived a large number shortcomings related to the quality of the picture on the screen.

Despite the decent cost of such new products, this is the current reality. Here you need to understand that quality costs money.

Some manufacturers are promoting quantum dot technology (Quatum Dot) to the masses.

Many buyers believe that this know-how is the future, but only a few know that there is no practical sense in its application. It cannot serve as the main element of the backlight system.

Yes, the color gamut is increasing, allegedly the user receives 125% sRGB and colors without flaws.

Beautiful numbers and pictures on the manufacturer's website haunt users.

The reality is that with this technology, many familiar colors suffer: they become difficult to perceive, oversaturated, poisonous.

It will be many more years before the corporation will bring to mind its CMS color management system. After all, the transfer of color to monitors with a wide color gamut depends on it.

You need to make changes to the format itself. In the meantime, it turns out, everyone tilts the table in their direction.

IGZO panels are gradually leaving the market. Their main manufacturer, Sharp, is experiencing global business problems. Many players have gradually switched from matrices of this corporation to IPS analogues.

However, Dell announces the use of IGZO in its future models. But on this moment we are not talking about stable supplies. The manufacturer does not explain these delays in any way.

The same problem is observed with OLED panels.

VA gaming displays are gradually reappearing on store shelves. Now they are equipped with new generation matrices, some of which are devoid of problems with low response times.

Of course, they are already equipped high frequency vertical scan (up to 144 Hz). Displays with curved screens with a diagonal of 23.5 inches have become the norm in stores.

This is a rather non-standard solution, designed for a separate category of citizens.

Also, many consider non-standard and the latest displays, which are about to appear on sale. The manufacturers claim that they will have an aspect ratio of 24:10.

This means that we get an even wider screen, even more pixels - 3840 × 1600.

It is not yet clear where to use such monitors, especially considering the fact that they will use the usual W-LED backlight. The vertical scanning frequency in them does not exceed 75 Hz.

However, it is assumed that there are users who do not have enough UWQHD resolution.

Ardent fans of the 16:10 format, who have already decided to say goodbye to this technology, will certainly rejoice at this fact.

Manufacturers no longer use HDMI 1.4. They prefer version 2.0, and sometimes that's not enough.

The most anticipated reveal of early 2017 was the new HDR specifications for desktop displays. This is where the time has come to discuss such long-awaited 4K displays.

LG Electronics 27UD88-З

The Korean manufacturer LG introduced 27UD88-Z - this is almost a gaming option. It is also suitable for professional PC user.

In addition to its amazing 27-inch 4K ultra HD resolution display, the LG UD88 also offers some of the most advanced and user-friendly connectivity features.

HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2, multiple USB ports and, to rule out any alternatives, USB-C for laptop compatibility.

Of course, the user gets UD88-3 color of a very high level of performance and beautiful elegant exterior design.

LG Electronics 4K UHD 27″ 27UD68-P

The manufacturers decided to release this solution in two colors, white (27UD68-W) and black (27UD68-W).

It looks fantastically stylish, offering a near bezel-less display that fills the entire 27-inch screen space.

The user gets truly stunning 4K sharpness and gorgeous colors.

Apart from these features, the 27UD68 also offers some of the most advanced connectivity in a 4K monitor in its price range.

Two HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.2 A, which is a very rare combination among 4K monitors.

Samsung UE590 UHD-QHD U28E590D 28" LED-Lit Monitor

The Samsung UE590 with 28″ UHD resolution is the perfect choice for consumers looking for a gaming and video solution.

This display has characteristics that are completely suitable for such activities.

It has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, a response time of 1 to 4ms, a tilt angle of -2 to +20 degrees, 2 HDMI ports and 1 DisplayPort connector.

The Korean manufacturer offers 2 versions of this display, U24E590D (23.5 inches) and U28E590D (28 inches).

Stunning realism is realized with 8 million pixels, which makes you feel the "presence effect".

Dell 4K S2817Q 28″ LCD monitor with built-in subwoofer

The Dell S2817Q isn't just a great, affordable, budget 4K option. It is ideal for organizing 4K gaming space.

And the most sophisticated users can also use it in the office.

The kit comes with built-in speakers, as well as excellent connectivity, excellent color reproduction and quality. Viewing angles are simply unique.

ASUS MG28UQ 28″ 4K gaming monster

The company recently released a unique MG28UQ. It is equally well suited for gamers, casual users or the office.

Any connoisseur gets excellent display performance, HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4 interface, DisplayPort and multiple USB slots.

The MG28UQ also comes with a fully adjustable viewing angle, adjustable stand, and VESA mount.

AdaptiveSync technology from makes this model a great solution for 4K gameplay.

Dell Ultra HD P2715Q 27" 4K LED Backlit Screen

This monitor boasts a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160.

Precise color limits and more than 1.07 billion colors, more than 8 million pixels - the perfect solution.

These settings make it possible to see very fine details on the screen. Adjustable stand allows you to increase or decrease the height, change the angle of inclination, turn and turn.

This display is equipped with DisplayPort 1.2 connectors, which makes it easy to chain two monitors via DP-in and DP-out ports, eliminating the need to link each of the monitors separately and reducing unnecessary wires.

ViewSonic VX2475SMHL-4K 24" 4K Ultra HD LED Monitor

The ViewSonic VX2475Smhl-4K monitor is designed for gaming, entertainment and photo/graphic applications.

This monitor is equipped with the latest developments from the manufacturer, including: Superclear PLS technology, wide viewing angle, 120M:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 4ms response time.

It also has features that the company calls "future-proof": DisplayPort 1.2A, MHL connectivity, and HDMI 2.0.

The monitor integrates two 2W speakers, which, combined with the above features, creates a unique multimedia experience.

LG MU67 27MU67 27″ 4K LED backlit screen

This 27″ monitor features a 16:9 aspect ratio, 5m:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and a 178-degree viewing angle, making it amazingly beautiful and practical.

It has three settings for gaming, black stabilizer, a function that allows you to brighten dark scenes, 4 split screen, which allows you to increase productivity.

Dual connection to connect two compatible devices to the monitor at the same time.

ViewSonic VP2780-4K 27" 4K Ultra HD LED Monitor

This 10-bit, 27-inch monitor is ideal for color-critical work. For example, content and graphics developers need it.

It is designed for professionals thanks to its display of up to 1.07 billion colors.

This monitor delivers superior accuracy and performance, images and video on screen are incredibly clear and look very lifelike.

Also features Multipicture for efficient multitasking, HDMI 2.0 that supports 3840 x 2160 resolution at 60Hz, dual MHL connection, 4 USB port 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2a, and ergonomic design

difference between 4k and uhd

Since both of these terms often appear when talking about 4K, it is very important for us to clarify this point.

From a practical point of view, there is no difference between 4K and UHD in the retail market. Both terms are interchangeable for most monitors, and if you see UHD resolution, it means 4K.

Practical benefits of 4K monitors

If a user regularly spends time playing computer games, browsing the web, and working on a regular PC, then no, they probably don't really need a 4K monitor.

Indeed, if the computer is not very good and internal, displaying 4K content on the screen can cause complications.

But, if you want a truly powerful, brilliantly bright display, if you're a professional who needs a screen that shows even the smallest details, then yes, a 4K monitor is for your PC or Mac.

This is an absolutely perfect choice.

Serious gamers who want the very best of their own, who want the highest resolution in their games, will also not be able to resist the quality of 4K displays.

Crysis 3 is a prime example of this, you will feel as if you were able to step behind the screen.

conclusions

The bottom line is that 4K technologies certainly have the right to life. They will continue to develop.

Ultra HD streaming content will be made available to gamers and TV/Video fans via broadband connections.

To get the most out of this new development, resolution clarity, you should seriously consider getting a 4K monitor.

Why Do You Need a 4K Monitor?

Monitors with 4k resolution: Why are they needed?

If it's time for you to think about purchasing a new TV, then you should consider one important question: what resolution of the TV is currently relevant? In recent years, the evolution of screens has made such progress that few people can be surprised by a high-quality picture at Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels at 120 Hz. It would seem that what else is needed to enjoy viewing? But Full HD is no longer the ultimate dream. The market is already selling models with 4K and Ulta HD resolution.

I propose to consider what is the difference between 4K and Ultra HD formats and what else you need to know before buying a modern TV or monitor now.

The difference between HD, UHD, 4K and 8K

High definition televisions (HDTV) have been a standard that has been in use for the past decade. Now it's hard to go into a store and buy a TV that isn't at least HD Ready, which means "capable of displaying a resolution of 1280 x 720 dots (720p)". But the vast majority modern TVs that can be bought are Full HD, which means "capable of displaying at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 dots (1080p)".

Letter " p" in both cases means progressive, which means that the entire image draws each line of the frame sequentially, and there are 720 or 1080 such lines, respectively. The alternative is the letter " i", which means interlaced scan (1080i is the HDTV standard). Odd and even lines are displayed alternately in each frame, resulting in a slight deterioration in image quality.

Term 4K refers to any display format with a horizontal resolution of approximately 4000 pixels. This is a little confusing, since at lower resolutions the format is written by the value of the number of pixels vertically, i.e. 1080i or 720p.

UHD or Ultra HD- the same as 4K, except for one thing: it is more suitable for consumers and TV, also has a lower resolution of 3840x2160 pixels ( 2K), how 4K.

In this way:

• (DCI) the Digital Cinema Initiatives standard is a professional production standard that is the most common for digital production at a resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels.
• UHD-1, often call 4K UHD or simply 4K and sometimes like 2160p, which has become the standard for TVs with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is four times the number of pixels in Full HD.

Most modern TVs UHD-1 does not use a wider aspect ratio DCI 4K, as it is not suitable for most TV content.

There is also a format Full HD Ultra, sometimes called 8K, it has a resolution of 7620 x 4320 pixels . There are several TVs on Yandex Market that can boast such a screen resolution and an impeccable picture, but I would recommend choosing a Full HD Ultra TV with a diagonal of at least 85 inches. On a smaller diagonal, you simply will not see all the magnificence of the picture, which is possible at 8K.

Why do you need UHD?

As already mentioned above, the TV diagonal must be at least 85 inches if you want to enjoy Full HD Ultra resolution. But for 4K, the diagonal sizes must also be appropriate. You simply won't notice the difference between the higher resolution even when watching native 4K content. It is recommended for UHD to choose at least 55 inches diagonal TV on which from a distance of less than 2 meters you can clearly distinguish between FullHD and UHD. At longer distances and smaller screen sizes, you won't notice the difference. Therefore, if you do not need such a large TV (55 inches or more), then there is no point in chasing a UHD TV, which costs much more than FullHD.

But there may be other good reasons to buy a 4K or even 8K TV.

new standard Ultra HD Premium allows you to use increased color depth (more than a billion colors) and a wider dynamic range, so the image quality should be noticeably higher than current standards. The appropriate logo on the TV is a guarantee that it meets these strict standards and is able to display UHD content in the best possible quality.

This standard covers global TV manufacturers such as LG, Panasonic and Samsung, as well as content providers such as Netflix, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox. But Sony does not use the Ultra HD Premium logo, even if the picture on Sony TVs is fully consistent with the standard, it was previously part of the UHD Alliance, and also developed it itself.

What else do you need to know about UHD?

If you've already made up your mind and are about to take the plunge and treat yourself to a new UHD TV, you may need to make other hardware upgrades to get the most out of your purchase. Existing devices, cables, and related broadcast television services will not allow you to view the picture in UHD quality.

You may have to change the provider of digital television, the Internet, replace all cables from peripheral equipment, if any. The recommended content rate for UHD is 25Mbps or 2GB.

Your old Blu-ray player also needs to be replaced. UHD Blu-ray players will be suitable for playing higher resolutions than FullHD and will be able to play UHD discs.

Also, you may need a new HDMI cable. An HDMI 1.4 cable is capable of displaying UHD resolution, HDMI 2.0 is required for displaying at 60fps. The vast majority of UHD content plays at 30 frames per second, but the day is not far off when UHD content will appear at 60 frames per second.

Ultimately, technological progress dictates the harsh conditions for the coexistence of television standards and the speed of video content transmission. No matter how sad it is, but expensive and high-performance equipment, which was bought literally "yesterday", after a while asks for a landfill. New resolution formats are inexorably taking over the TV market, improving picture quality. Therefore, in the very near future, the FullHD format will inevitably fade into the background, giving way to the younger UHD or 4K format.

Have you already purchased a UHD TV or are you just planning to do so? Is there a noticeable difference between FullHD and UHD? Tell other people about it in the comments.

4K (resolution) is a concept that emerged in the era of digital cinema. In cinema, screen resolution is measured by the length of the frame, horizontally, and not vertically, as in television. Since digital cinema has different screen ratio standards, it is more convenient to focus on horizontal resolution, which remains constant, as opposed to frame height. But technology is advancing rapidly, and now video of this quality can be streamed continuously.

4K resolution corresponds to 4000 horizontal pixels. To understand what ultra-high definition video is, it is enough to imagine a 15-meter screen, the picture on which remains as clear as on an ordinary TV screen. 4K TVs and computer monitors by Association standards consumer electronics must have a resolution of at least 8,000,000 pixels. A high-definition television frame, HD (High-Definition), consists of 2,000,000 pixels. The classic television standard is 400,000 pixels.

Digital cinema projectors in most theaters only support 2K resolution. To see the picture quality of a 4K movie projector, you have to look for a cinema that has a projector with that resolution. Such cinemas are called IMAX, Image Maximum, in translation - “ maximum image". An ordinary cinema visitor rarely thinks about what the concept of IMAX means, does this abbreviation mean what the viewer will see on the screen maximum quality. To answer this question, let's try to figure out how the format and screen resolution are related.

Aspect Ratio

Ultra-high-definition TV screens and computer monitors according to the standards of the Consumer Electronics Association are produced with a resolution of at least 3840 pixels horizontally and 2160 vertically. This allows for larger screen sizes than for HD video. If HD video has a resolution of 1920x1080 or 1280x720, then 4K resolution means that there will be four times as many pixels on the screen. But at the same time, the difference between HD and Ultra HD can be seen with the naked eye only on large screens or by going close to the display.

By the same standards, the aspect ratio of UHD TVs, monitors and projectors must be 16:9. This is the standard format of Russian and European television.

Since 2012, the International Telecommunication Union has adopted a recommendation that defines the values ​​of these and other parameters for ultra-high definition television. And in 2016, the first players and discs for Ultra HD Blu-ray were released, supporting 4K resolution, as well as 60 frames per second. In the same year, Microsoft's Xbox One S, a 4K video game console, hit stores.

If the camera matrix or monitor has a resolution of 4K, in pixels this is the size of the resulting images. Also, the image size is often indicated in megapixels, megapixels, this designation is especially common when specifying the resolution of digital camera matrices.

1 megapixel is 1,000,000 pixels. The more pixels on the sensor of a camera or movie camera, the more accurate the captured image will be and the more details will be distinguishable. For a 4K monitor screen with 4096×2160 display dots, the image size will be 8.8 megapixels, for a 3840×2160 monitor it will be 8.3 megapixels.

Full-frame 4K has an aspect ratio of 4:3 (1.33:1), while academic 4K has an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Academic, also known as "classic", format corresponds to 35 mm film. Throughout the 20th century, it was the most common format along with 4:3 (1.33:1). The 4:3 aspect ratio is still used in both digital cinema sensors and when shooting on film. It is easy to calculate that the area of ​​a 4:3 screen will also be larger compared to a 16:9 screen of the same diagonal, because a 4:3 screen is larger vertically.

IMAX technology appeared long before digital cinema. Its peculiarity is in the wide picture format, the screen length in the IMAX cinema is much longer than in another cinema, it exceeds the width of the hall. But with the mass transition of cinemas to digital screening, many cinema chains that appropriated the IMAX brand did not rebuild the halls, but only installed projectors that meet IMAX standards. The IMAX digital standard involves the use of two 4K projectors, but they are not installed everywhere, often use projectors with 2K resolution.

There are still difficulties with the production and distribution of IMAX films that are close in image quality to film IMAX; however, how many pixels equals the resolution of an IMAX film frame can only be theoretically assumed. Sources give different figures, but agree that this resolution is at least 8K.

2014 saw the release of the first 3D film shot entirely on an IMAX digital cinema camera with a 4K resolution matrix. Despite the fact that the quality is inferior to IMAX film, it is worth considering that only the most spectacular and spectacular scenes were filmed at IMAX. The only films shot entirely in IMAX quality on film were Space Station 3D and Hubble IMAX 3D. Original IMAX film equipment is bulky and awkward, while IMAX 4K digital cinema camera weighs only 17 kg.

In addition to the resolution itself, the number of pixels, 4K technology improves image quality with HDR (High Dynamic Range) and increased color gamut. Dynamic Range, the dynamic range of levels of dark and light shades, is standard and high, as in TVs and monitors with 4K resolution.

The more shades the screen displays and the greater the range of saturation it can provide, the more realistic and detailed the video becomes. Brightness is measured in nits, and so far 4K TVs and monitors can only operate between zero and 2000 nits, while the brightness of the sky on a sunny day is 20,000 nits.

Video example

Below you can watch the video shot in 4K resolution, if your video card and your screen are capable of supporting this format. To find out if your video card can handle it, you need to look at the maximum digital resolution it supports.

Conclusion

The answer to the question of whether the user needs 4K (resolution) depends on what equipment he is going to buy and for what - a TV for watching movies and programs or a monitor for fresh computer games.

Ultra HD television broadcasting is not yet very common, now it is included only in paid channel packages. Computer monitors and TVs are able to both adapt the image format if it does not match the monitor format, and add missing pixels if the video was shot at a lower resolution. But the result is not always good. Old movies are being digitized in 4K resolution frame by frame.

In addition, 4:3 TVs often cut off the edges of a 16:9 picture, which is especially inconvenient if there is lettering in the frame. Black bars appear above and below, and only 75% of the frame remains.

When using the 4:3 aspect ratio stretch function to a 16:9 screen, proportions may also be distorted, for example, faces will stretch or shrink.

According to standards, all Ultra HD TVs and monitors are 16:9, but it is not certain that they will display television programs, films and videos shot and recorded in 4:3 without distortion. If, when viewed on a computer, this can be corrected using the functionality of player programs, then TVs do not always cope with this task. Black or gray stripes will remain along the edges of the screen, which not everyone finds aesthetically pleasing.

In addition, many films are shot in a format larger than 16:9, their format is 2.35:1, 2.39:1. These are films of widescreen cinema, their peculiarity is that they create a greater “presence effect” for the viewer due to the wide horizontal viewing angle. Such films have been made since the 1950s, and the Scope (2.39:1) format also exists in 4K resolution. When viewing these films on a 16:9 screen, bands about 12% of the picture height will also appear around the edges.

But if stripes don't bother you, or you're not a movie buff, there's no point in choosing a 4:3 monitor. For those who are bothered by the stripes along the edges of the screen, there is an original solution - electric curtains, which create a solid black frame, the size of which can be adjusted to any image.

In addition, to view ultra-clear video on a TV screen, you will need to buy an HDMI 2.0 cable or a suitable video card for high transmission speed and quality. It may also be that your Ultra HD TV does not have an HDMI 2.0 port. 4K video has to be compressed in order to be transmitted, given that there are several video encoding formats, but not every TV is able to decode all of them.

4K technology provides a high level of detail and high frame rate, which is attractive not only for movie lovers, but also for gamers. A refresh rate of around 120 frames per second creates an immersive experience and reduces eye fatigue. The image is much brighter and more saturated, since Ultra HD standards also imply an increase in the digital range. More and more content with 4K resolution appears, 4K digital cameras are becoming cheaper, like TVs and monitors of yesteryear, which means they are becoming more accessible to the user.

A 4K computer monitor is a must for those who follow the latest in the gaming industry, work in areas related to design and architecture. In these cases, the detail of the graphics is critical.