A tool designed for widescreen cinematography compresses a wide image onto a narrower sensor or film. This squeezed image is then “de-squeezed” during projection or playback, resulting in a wider aspect ratio than the original recording medium. For instance, a 2.39:1 cinematic widescreen image can be captured on a 1.33:1 sensor using a 1.8x anamorphic lens. A corresponding device is then needed to restore the intended aspect ratio.
Such tools are essential for filmmakers seeking a cinematic aesthetic without requiring specialized, and often expensive, camera equipment. They enable the capture of wider fields of view, resulting in the characteristic lens flares and oval bokeh associated with anamorphic lenses. Historically, anamorphic lenses and the accompanying decoding processes were developed to maximize the use of film stock, allowing wider images to be captured on standard film formats. Today, these tools remain relevant for digital filmmaking, enabling creative control over the final image’s aspect ratio and visual characteristics.
