BluSKY Gold Standards for Camera Resolution and Aspect Ratio

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BluSKY’s video solution is designed to support a wide variety of cameras and configurations while maintaining consistent performance, high-quality recording, and efficient bandwidth usage. To achieve this, BluSKY establishes a Gold Standard for camera configurations — a set of best practices that guide how video should be streamed, recorded, and displayed within BluSKY.

This Gold Standard defines two parallel standards — one for 16:9 aspect ratio cameras and one for 4:3 aspect ratio cameras. Both are equally valid and should be applied according to the physical installation, camera capabilities, and customer viewing needs.

Understanding Aspect Ratios

The aspect ratio determines the proportional relationship between a camera’s width and height.

Aspect Ratio Common Resolution Examples Shape Typical Use Case

16:9 (Widescreen) 1920x1080, 1280x720, 640x360 Wide rectangle (letterbox) Modern HD video, wide field of view, general-purpose coverage
4:3 (Standard) 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480 More square (taller frame) Close monitoring, doorways, elevators, areas needing vertical coverage

BluSKY Gold Standards acknowledge both ratios because viewing geometry matters. While the industry has largely moved to 16:9, 4:3 remains preferred in certain applications where vertical detail is more important than horizontal width — for example, lobbies, stairwells, and elevator interiors.

Streaming vs. Recording Resolution

BluSKY differentiates between streaming (live view) and recording resolutions:

A. Streaming Resolution (Live View)

Used when viewing multiple cameras simultaneously through BluSKY web and mobile interfaces.
Optimized for bandwidth efficiency and screen visibility.
Typically 1 megapixel or less.
Common Gold Standard streaming resolutions:
640x360 (16:9) — standard for widescreen cameras.
640x480 (4:3) — standard for traditional cameras.
BluSKY automatically scales video for optimal display; higher resolutions provide no added benefit when camera tiles are small.
Lower resolutions reduce load on both network and client devices, maximizing the number of simultaneous live streams.

B. Recording Resolution (Stored Video)

Used for video review, evidence, and analytics.
Target 2 megapixels or higher, depending on camera capability.
Ensures high fidelity for playback, zoom, object identification, and AI analytics.
Typical recording resolutions:
1920x1080 (16:9 Full HD)
1600x1200 (4:3 UXGA)

BluSKY Gold Standard Guidelines

BluSKY’s Gold Standard defines ideal configurations, but it is a guideline, not a rigid rule. Final camera configuration must balance performance, visibility, and compatibility.

Gold Standard Configuration Summary
Category 16:9 Gold Standard 4:3 Gold Standard Notes
Aspect Ratio 16:9 4:3 Determined by camera geometry and viewing need
Streaming Resolution 640x360 640x480 Target ≤1MP for efficient live streaming
Recording Resolution 1920x1080 1600x1200 Target 2MP or higher for recording
Use Case General surveillance, wide areas Doorways, vertical spaces, elevators Select based on scene geometry
Bandwidth Priority High efficiency Moderate Streaming optimized per use case

Camera Compatibility and Auto-Detection

Some cameras only support specific resolutions or aspect ratios. BluSKY respects each device’s native capabilities and will not force unsupported formats.

Future Development Note:

BluSKY’s Local Video Site Manager (LVSM) and NVR integrations will automatically:

Detect connected camera models.
Query the available streaming and recording resolutions.
Present only supported resolutions for configuration.

This enhancement will eliminate trial-and-error setup and ensure every camera operates within manufacturer specifications while adhering to BluSKY standards.

Practical Considerations

1. Installation-Dependent Decisions

The ideal ratio (16:9 or 4:3) is often not known until after installation. Field of view, mounting angle, and lighting can all affect which aspect ratio provides optimal coverage.

2. Bandwidth vs. Clarity Tradeoff

Higher streaming resolution increases network load. BluSKY’s Gold Standard aims for clarity where it matters (recorded video) and efficiency where possible (live streaming).

3. Respect Camera Limitations

If a camera does not support the exact Gold Standard resolution, BluSKY will use the closest supported resolution while maintaining the correct aspect ratio.

4. Recording Quality First

Always prioritize recording quality over live stream quality. The recorded video is the authoritative record for playback and analytics.

Summary

BluSKY’s Gold Standard ensures consistency, quality, and performance across diverse video environments.

16:9 and 4:3 are both supported and standardized.
Streaming resolution targets 640x360 or 640x480 (≤1MP).
Recording resolution targets 2MP or higher.
Flexibility and respect for camera capabilities are essential.
Automatic resolution detection is planned to streamline setup.

The BluSKY Gold Standard defines excellence in configuration — but always with practical flexibility to ensure every camera delivers its best performance for each unique installation.