Resizing Images for Your Videos

We live in a world where anyone can create and share video content. However, including still images that are distorted or improperly sized for your video is a telltale sign of an amateur production. This often happens when a creator tries to stretch a low-resolution image or one with a different aspect ratio to fit the video frame.

Fortunately, you can present digital images, scanned photos, and other graphics professionally with a little preparation.

Understanding Image Attributes

To start, you need to understand the three main attributes that affect image quality:

• Resolution refers to the level of detail, measured in pixels per inch (PPI). A higher PPI means a sharper image. While high-quality print images require a high resolution (300-600 DPI), videos need much less, with most screens set to 72 PPI.

• Definition is the actual size of a digital image, measured by its horizontal and vertical pixels. For example, High Definition (HD) video is 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels, while Ultra HD (4K) is 3840 by 2160 pixels.

• Aspect Ratio is the shape of the image. A square image has a 1:1 ratio, while most modern HD and UHD videos use a 16:9 ratio.

Sourcing Your Images For Videos

The quality of your source image is the most important factor. Always try to start with the best possible image.

• If you're scanning a photo, use a high-resolution setting of at least 300 or 600 DPI. This captures maximum detail, making it easier to scale down for a video project later.

• If you’re downloading an image or graphic, find one that is the same size as your video definition or larger. For example, if your video is 1920x1080, an image that is 960x540 will need to be stretched to fit, which will cause it to look blurry and pixelated.

Unfortunately, for historical or older photos, you often have to work with what's available. The good news is there are several creative solutions for this.

Creative Resizing Solutions

In an ideal world, all your images would perfectly match your video specifications. But when that’s not the case, you can use these techniques in image editing software like Photoshop to prepare them.

• Pillar Boxing: Create a new canvas with the exact dimensions and resolution of your video project (for example, 1920x1080 at 72 PPI). Import your image as a new layer. Resize it as large as you can without losing quality. If it's a portrait-oriented photo, it will likely touch the top and bottom of the frame, leaving black bars on the sides. While not perfect, this looks far better than a distorted, stretched image. You can also swap out the black background for a subtle gradient or solid color that matches your video's theme.

• Custom Background Canvas: If you have multiple images to resize, you can create a custom background layer for them. This is an opportunity to add to your video's theme. For a documentary on medieval history, for example, a high-quality parchment texture as a backdrop can be a great visual touch.

• Customized Blur Effect: You can also use the image itself as its own background for a seamless and elegant look. To do this, duplicate the image so you have two layers. On the bottom layer, enlarge the image significantly (e.g., 500%) and apply a heavy blur filter until it’s smooth and abstract. Then, place the original image on top, resized to maintain its aspect ratio. This gives you a matching background that is organic in color and texture.

• Video Background: For a more advanced approach, save your resized image with a transparent background (alpha channel). In your video editor, you can then layer this image over an animated background clip. Add some color filters or a subtle blur to the moving background, and your once low-quality image will look polished and professional.

  
  

In video production, the small details matter. By using these tricks, you can take a substandard image and turn it into a high-quality visual element that elevates your entire project.

We will apply all of these techniques in various projects and make sure all of your graphics are screen ready and look great. Learn more about our custom video production services.