The Difference Between 1080i and 1080p

There's a lot of talk about 4K these days, but that doesn't mean 1080i and 1080p are dead. In fact, for many videographers and filmmakers,1080i and 1080p are still the standard. So, what's the difference between the two? And which one is right for you?

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1080i vs 1080p: What's the difference?

The main difference between 1080i and 1080p is that 1080i is an interlaced resolution while 1080p is a progressive resolution. Interlaced means that the image is split into two fields, each consisting of 540 horizontal lines. Progressive means that the image is displayed as a single field, consisting of 1080 horizontal lines.

1080i was the standard for broadcast TV for many years because it works well with CRT monitors. However, it's not as well-suited for LCD monitors, which are more common these days. 1080p, on the other hand, is much better suited for LCD monitors. For this reason, most Blu-ray discs are encoded in 1080p.

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So, which one should you use? If you're working with video from a broadcast TV source, you'll probably want to use 1080i. If you're working with video from a Blu-ray disc or other HD source, you'll probably want to use 1080p.