{"id":75839,"date":"2020-06-24T09:17:02","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=75839"},"modified":"2020-06-24T09:37:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:37:00","slug":"beginners-guide-to-frame-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/beginners-guide-to-frame-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner’s Guide to Frame Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s take a brief look at frame rates, what they are, and exactly how to decide how many frames per second will best benefit your next project.<\/h2>\n

Different mediums and different regions all demand different frame rates for various reasons. But, the number of frames per second you decide to give to your shot can also drastically change how your project looks and what you can do with the footage.\u00a0\u00a0Let’s take a look.<\/p>\n

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What Is Frame Rate?<\/h3>\n

Frame rate, which is also commonly labeled as frames per second (fps), is a term used to describe how many still frames will compose a single second of a moving image. For example, in this one-second loop of a clip from Gone Girl<\/a><\/em>, there are twenty-four individual frames.<\/p>\n

\"One-Second<\/p>\n

If we brought this clip into our editing software, and incrementally pulled each frame, we’d be left with these twenty-four individual frames \u2014 each frame representing 1\/24th of a second.<\/p>\n

\"24<\/a>

Each frame represents 1\/24th of a second. Image via Twentieth Century Fox<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The term “frames per second,” which may feel somewhat antiquated for digital filmmaking, is derived from celluloid (8mm,16mm, 35mm film) and details how many frames would be exposed per second. Although digital cameras don’t use film, they electronically process individual still frames similarly, and, as such, the term is interchangeable with both celluloid and digital.<\/p>\n

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Why Are There a Specific Set of FPS to Use?<\/h3>\n
\"Vintage<\/a>

In the early days of film, frame rates were kept low to cut down on cost. Image via Noel Powell<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Unlike shutter speed, where there seems to be an abundance of speeds to choose from, with frames per second, the settings usually adhere to a set of standards, and often, you’ll be able to choose from the small selection of: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 48, 50, 59.94, and 60.<\/p>\n

But, why do they start at 24fps? Why not 19 or 20? Well, humans can typically recognize ten to twelve passing frames as identifiable individual images. However, as soon as more images pass within that second, the gap between each image shortens, and our brains recognize the images as motion. In the early 1900s, there was no standard frame rate, but it was in the interest of studios to keep the frame rates low since higher frame rates require the use of more film.<\/p>\n

While there’s no one specific reason as to why we start at 24fps, we can conclude the primary reasons are math and the introduction of recording sound. In my article “The Surprisingly Fascinating World of Frame Rates<\/a>,” I delve more in-depth into the reasoning from the switch from 16fps to 24fps.<\/p>\n

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Frame Rates for Film<\/h3>\n

https:\/\/vimeo.com\/118533139<\/p>\n

As stated, 24fps is universally accepted as the norm for a “cinematic” frame rate. Nonetheless, a few innovative, experimental filmmakers have started to explore their options. One famous example is Peter Jackson<\/a>,\u00a0who went with 48fps when shooting The Hobbit Trilogy<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Even though Jackson’s foray into the 48fps format received mixed feedback, some haven’t given up on testing the frame rate boundaries. James Cameron<\/a> is reportedly shooting his upcoming Avatar<\/em><\/a> sequels at 48fps, and Ang Lee<\/a> recently shot Gemini Man<\/em><\/a> at 120fps (a choice met with not a small amount of criticism<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Ultimately, while there are a variety of frame rates to shoot with, most of which digital projectors and home streaming services can accommodate, the reason why movies are left to 24fps is that the distinctive look is simply something we’re used to.<\/p>\n

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Frame Rates for Video and Television<\/h3>\n
\"Frame<\/a>

NTSC \/ PAL Color Test Chart. Image via caimacanul<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n