Layman's terms required

[iamWZA]

Hello everyone,

would somebody do me the tedious favour of explaining to me in simple terms what exactly 1080p is and what 4K is. And how it relates to pixels.
I have never really understood what either means and I'd be eternally grateful if somebody could explain it to me.

Thanks

 

[ghosteater]

1080p - 1080 horizontal lines of vertical resolution (assuming a 16:9 aspect ratio)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._hdtv.svg/710px-Progressive_scan_hdtv.svg.png

4k - approximately 4,000 pixels horizontal resolution (note horizontal and not vertical like in 1080 example, which was done because there are numerous aspect ratios used in cinema and they didn't want to assume 16:9)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4K_resolution

 

[ghosteater]

... and here is a visualization of it http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWEHcIUSZOk/TtaudK790CI/AAAAAAAAA9o/aNdkw24el7M/s1600/Dcine_700.jpg if helpful

 

[Gabel]

... and here is a visualization of it http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWEHcIUSZOk/TtaudK790CI/AAAAAAAAA9o/aNdkw24el7M/s1600/Dcine_700.jpg if helpful

Though they did do one mistake: Horizontal resolution should ALWAYS be written first.

 

[iamWZA]

Thank you very much! My question now is: Would I be able to see the difference between 4K and 1080p when if i'm playing it on an HD TV or a 1080p monitor? Surely you can only see the benefits of 4K if you're playing the footage through a monitor that can process and display 4K images?

 

[ghosteater]

I think you'd need a 4k tv to be able to see the difference, and as referenced here http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/freshdv/story/4k_not_ok/ you'd need a HUGE tv at home (that you sat right in front of) just to be able to tell the difference on that. perhaps someone else can confirm that?