The tech world is always changing and sometimes it may be hard to keep up with all of the advancements. One advancement in particular has made a big impact on the way we view things. That advancement is 4K. Since 2010 when YouTube started supporting 4K video to now with the best cameras having the capability to create 4K video, the newer resolution has taken over the media world. With video marketing accounting for 69% of consumer internet traffic, it’s crucial to understand what 4K video is, where it’s headed and why it matters!
So, what is 4K?
You may have heard 4K referred to as “Ultra HD” as well. The site TechRadar explains it like this: “Pure and simple, 4K means a clearer picture. It’s more pixels (8,294,400 to be exact) on the screen at once that creates images that are crisper and capable of showing more details than standard HD.”
In other words the more pixels, the better for your movie watching, your video streaming, essentially anything you are seeing on a screen. 4K also has other beneficial factors such as higher bit depth, higher frame rate and a wider color gamut.
How Does 4K Make an Impact?
From the beginning of the process as a filmmaker all the way to the end as a viewer, 4K draws an impact throughout the entire operation. For recording in 4K on a camera, the user needs to know important settings such as the live view mode, ISO and the recording quality. It’s important to hire someone who knows the ins-and-outs of recording 4K video and overall video. It’s also important to note when editing your content, understand the differences of working with 4K video versus 1080p. For example, understand how to scale the video down to 2K.
While this technology is impressive, it also can be a process to learn the right way to utilize 4K video. It can make a big impact on the viewer’s experience and you want to make an impression that lasts and draws business.
What Comes Next?
So what comes after 4K? The answer is 8K. Wired explained that 4K footage has a resolution of 8 megapixels per frame and with 8K it will have a resolution of 32 megapixels per frame. More on 8K to come in the future!
