For Frame TV art, the size that matters is not inches but the shape and the number of pixels, also called the resolution. Every artwork in our shop is one JPG at 3840 x 2160 pixels, in the 16:9 shape.
What 16:9 means
16:9 is the shape of the picture: 16 parts wide for every 9 parts high. Almost every modern TV has a 16:9 screen. When the art has the same shape as the screen, it fills the whole screen. There are no black bars at the sides and nothing is cut off.
A square or portrait picture on a 16:9 TV gets black bars or loses part of the picture. That is why we make every piece in 16:9 from the start.
Why 3840 x 2160 pixels
3840 x 2160 pixels is 4K, also called Ultra HD. It is the number of pixels on a 4K TV. So on a 4K TV, each pixel in the file lands on one pixel of the screen, and the art looks as sharp as the screen can show it.
On a Full HD TV (1920 x 1080 pixels), the TV shrinks the picture to fit. It stays sharp, because the file has more detail than the screen needs.
Why one file fits 43 to 85 inch TVs
A 43-inch 4K TV and an 85-inch 4K TV have the same number of pixels: 3840 x 2160. The bigger TV simply has bigger pixels. So the same file fills both screens exactly.
Here is how many pixels per inch the file gives on common 4K TV sizes:
| TV size | Pixels per inch |
|---|---|
| 43 inch | about 102 |
| 55 inch | about 80 |
| 65 inch | about 68 |
| 75 inch | about 59 |
| 85 inch | about 52 |
That sounds low next to a printed photo, but you look at a TV from a few meters away. At that distance, a 4K picture looks smooth even on an 85-inch screen. The same file also works on smaller and larger 16:9 screens.
Matte and glossy screens
Some TVs made for art mode have a matte screen. A matte screen spreads the light from windows and lamps, so you see fewer reflections. Art often looks softer on it, a bit more like paper or canvas. In a bright room, dark parts of the picture can look a little lighter than on a glossy screen.
A glossy screen shows deeper blacks but reflects more. If yours is glossy, keep it out of direct window light if you can.
Colors look different on every screen
The same file can look warmer, cooler, brighter or darker on different screens. That is normal. It depends on:
- the TV model and its picture settings
- the brightness of the art mode
- the color tone setting (warm or cool)
- the light in your room during the day and in the evening
Our product photos are room mockups, and your phone or computer shows colors in its own way too. So the art on your TV will be close to what you see here, but not exactly the same.
A few tips if the colors feel off: choose a warm color tone, turn off vivid or dynamic picture modes, and lower the brightness in the evening. If your TV has a light sensor, turn it on. It adjusts the brightness to your room. The Best Art Mode Settings for Your Frame TV goes through each setting.
Computers and tablets
The file works on any 16:9 screen, such as most computer monitors and laptops. Many tablets have a different shape, so the edges may be cut off or show bars.
Does the file work on an 8K TV?
Yes. An 8K TV has four times the pixels of a 4K TV, so the TV scales our 4K file up to fill the screen. It looks good from the normal viewing distance, but it cannot show more detail than the file holds.
What about printing?
Our files are made for screens, not for printing. A 3840 x 2160 file printed at photo quality would be only about 33 x 18 cm (13 x 7 inches), and colors on paper differ from colors on a screen. For a sharp, bright result, show the art on your TV.
Ready to put it on your TV?
The steps are in How to Add Your Own Art to a Frame TV. Questions about size or your TV? Send us a message through the Contact page.