
720p (720 lines progressive) is a progressive
HD signal format with 720 horizontal lines/1280 columns and an
aspect ratio (AR) of
16:9, normally known as widescreen HD (1.78:1). All major HD broadcasting standards (such as
SMPTE 292M) include a 720p format, which has a resolution of 1280×720.
The number ''720'' stands for the 720 horizontal
scan lines of image
display resolution (also known as 720 pixels of vertical resolution). The ''p'' stands for
progressive scan, i.e. non-interlaced. When broadcast at 60 frames per second, 720p features the highest
temporal resolution possible under the
ATSC and
DVB standards. The term assumes a
widescreen
Widescreen images are displayed within a set of aspect ratio (image), aspect ratios (relationship of image width to height) used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ...
aspect ratio of
16:9, thus implying a resolution of 1280×720
px (0.9
megapixels).
720i (720 lines
interlaced) is an erroneous term found in numerous sources and publications. Typically, it is a typographical error in which the author is referring to the 720p HDTV format. However, in some cases it is incorrectly presented as an actual alternative format to 720p. No proposed or existing broadcast standard permits 720 ''interlaced'' lines in a video frame at any frame rate.
Comparison with interlace scanning
Progressive scanning reduces the need to prevent flicker by anti-aliasing single high contrast horizontal lines.
It is also easier to perform high-quality 50↔60 Hz conversion and slow-motion clips with progressive video.
Resolutions
Notes
See also
*
1440p,
4K,
Ultra-high-definition television,
1080i
In high-definition television (HDTV) and video display technology, 1080i is a video display format with 1080 lines of vertical resolution and Interlaced video, interlaced scanning method. This format was once a standard in HDTV. It was particular ...
,
1080p.
*
High-definition television (HDTV)
*
Image resolution
*
List of common display resolutions
References
External links
EBU Technical paper on HDTV formats
{{Video formats
Television terminology
Video formats