What term describes the relationship of width to height in a picture?

The term that accurately describes the relationship of width to height in a picture is known as the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is a critical concept in video production and photography, as it helps to define the shape of the image and influences how it is displayed on various screens or media.

For example, a common aspect ratio for widescreen television and films is 16:9, which means that for every 16 units of width, there are 9 units of height. This standardization allows for consistency in presentation across different viewing platforms. Understanding aspect ratios is essential for framing shots correctly, ensuring that the visual composition maintains its intended quality, and fits the format of the display medium without distortion or cropping.

The other terms presented do not accurately reflect this specific relationship: "image ratio" and "dimension ratio" are not commonly used in the video production industry to refer specifically to width and height, while "scale ratio" typically pertains to the relationship between sizes or proportions in scaling rather than the geometric relationship of width and height in a picture.