Pixel Aspect Ratio from Wiki

Pixel aspect ratio (PAR) is a mathematical ratio that describes how the width of pixels in a digital image compares to their height.

Most digital imaging systems describe an image as a grid of very small but nonetheless square pixels. However, some imaging systems, especially those which must maintain compatibility with Standard-definition television motion pictures, define an image as a grid of rectangular pixels in which the width of the pixel is slightly different from that of its height. Pixel Aspect Ratio describes this difference.

Use of Pixel Aspect Ratio mostly involves pictures pertaining to standard-definition television and some other exceptional cases. Most other imaging systems, including those which comply with SMPTE standards and practices, use square pixels.

 

A digital image is generally defined as a grid of very small but nonetheless square pixels with well-defined start and end edges and corners. Thus, digital video standards define motion pictures as a series of such images, called video frames, played back in a sequentially progressive manner.

However, standard-definition television standards and practices are incompatible with digital video. Such standards define an image as an array of well-defined horizontal "Lines", well-defined vertical "Line Duration" and a well-defined picture center. However, there is not standard-definition television standard that properly define image edges or explicitly demand a certain number of picture elements per line. Furthermore, analog video systems such as NTSC 480i and PAL 576i, instead of employing progressively-displayed frames, employs fields or interlaced half-frames displayed in an interwoven manner to create motion.

 

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Pixel aspect ratio 2:1

Pixel Aspect Ratios of Common Video Formats

Pixel Aspect Ratio values for common standard-

definition video formats are listed below. Note that for each video format, three different types of Pixel Aspect Ratio values are listed:

1. Rec.601, a Rec.601-compliant value, which is considered the real Pixel Aspect Ratio of standard-definition video of that type. (Read Explanation)
2. Digital, which is roughly equivalent to Rec.601 and is more suitable to use in Digital Video Editing software. (Read Explanation)

Video System	Picture Dimensions	Pixel Aspect Ratio		Pixel Aspect Ratio (Decimal)
		Rec.601	Digital	Rec.601
Standard (4:3) PAL (e.g. 576i)	720×576 704×576 352×288	59:54	12:11
Widescreen (16:9) PAL		118:81	16:11
Standard (4:3) NTSC (e.g. 480i)	720×480 704×480 352×240	10:11
Widescreen (16:9) NTSC		40:33