Frames Per Second (FPS)
What is Frames Per Second (FPS)?
FPS stands for frames per second: it is the number that tells you how many images are shown every second in a video. Higher FPS means smoother motion.
At a glance
- Also known as
- Frame rateFrames per secondTemporal resolution
- Used for
- Specifying video temporal resolution in production parametersCommunicating delivery requirementsSetting AI video generation parameters
- Common tools
- Camera settings menusVideo editing timeline settingsExport configuration panelsAI generation parameters
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How it compares
Resolution describes the spatial detail of each individual frame ( how many pixels wide and tall the image is ) while FPS describes the temporal density of the video: how many frames are shown per second. Both are important dimensions of video quality. A high-resolution video at low FPS will look detailed but jerky. A low-resolution video at high FPS will look smooth but lacking in fine detail. Professional video production optimises both dimensions for the intended use, balancing the computational and storage costs of high resolution against those of high frame rate.
Think of it like…
FPS works like the tick of a clock, but instead of marking time it marks how many pictures flash by per second on a screen. A clock that ticks 24 times a second would feel smooth and even: that is cinema. A clock that ticks 60 times a second would feel even faster and sharper: that is how sports and gaming video feels. The number itself does not describe what you see in the images; it just describes how quickly you are being shown one image after another. Even a small difference in that tick rate creates a noticeably different feeling for the viewer, which is why cinematographers take FPS choices very seriously.
Pro tip
When working with AI-generated video intended for international distribution, be aware that 24 FPS is universally compatible across both PAL and NTSC delivery environments, while 25 and 30 FPS are region-specific broadcast standards. Generating at 24 FPS and converting to 25 or 30 FPS only when a specific regional delivery requires it provides maximum flexibility. Document the FPS of every generated asset at the point of creation to prevent later uncertainty about timeline compatibility when assembling footage from multiple sources.
Types and variations
- Standard FPS values in common use include 23.
- 976 FPS, the NTSC-compatible version of 24 FPS used in broadcast contexts; 24 FPS, the theatrical film standard; 25 FPS, the PAL broadcast standard; 29.
- 97 FPS, the NTSC broadcast standard used in North America; 30 FPS, the rounded version of 29.
- 97 FPS used in modern digital contexts; 50 FPS, the PAL high-frame-rate standard; 59.
- 94 FPS and 60 FPS, used for gaming and sports content; and 120 FPS, 240 FPS, and above for high-speed slow-motion capture.
- The subtle differences between 23.
- 976 and 24, or 29.
- 97 and 30, reflect the legacy of analogue broadcast television engineering and can cause synchronisation issues if not managed carefully in mixed post-production workflows.
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- Camera operators reference FPS when selecting shooting parameters to match the intended aesthetic and delivery requirements of a production.
- Editors specify FPS when setting up new project timelines to ensure compatibility with source footage.
- Export presets for different platforms ( cinema, broadcast, web, social media ) specify FPS as part of the technical delivery specification.
- AI generation tools accept FPS as a parameter that determines the temporal resolution of generated video output.
- Production documents, shot lists, and technical specifications routinely include FPS as part of the camera package description.
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FAQs
FPS stands for frames per second, the measurement of how many individual still images are displayed sequentially per second in a video. It is the universal abbreviation used across camera specifications, editing software, delivery requirements, and AI generation parameters to communicate the temporal resolution of video content.
24 FPS is the most widely recognised standard, used for theatrical film and prestige television productions worldwide because of its cinematic aesthetic associations. 30 FPS is the standard for broadcast television and social media content in North America. 25 FPS is the equivalent broadcast standard in Europe and many other PAL-region countries. 60 FPS is standard for gaming, sports, and high-motion content.
Higher FPS produces smoother, more fluid motion with less motion blur per frame, creating a sharper and more immediate visual quality often described as realistic or video-like. Lower FPS produces more motion blur per frame and a slightly staggered temporal quality that audiences associate with cinematic content. The difference is most immediately apparent in fast motion: a car chase looks very different at 24 FPS versus 60 FPS.
23.976 FPS is a legacy of analogue broadcast television engineering, specifically the NTSC colour television standard. When colour television was introduced in the United States, the frame rate was slightly reduced from 30 to 29.97 FPS to prevent interference between the video signal and the colour subcarrier. The cinematic equivalent became 23.976 FPS for the same reason. Modern digital production often uses true 24 FPS, but 23.976 remains common in contexts with NTSC broadcast compatibility requirements.
The appropriate FPS for AI video generation depends on the intended use and delivery platform. For cinematic or narrative content, 24 FPS provides the characteristic film aesthetic. For social media and general content, 30 FPS is widely compatible. For high-motion content or gaming, 60 FPS provides maximum smoothness. Higher frame rates require more computation per second of generated content, so matching the FPS to the actual delivery requirement rather than generating at unnecessarily high rates is a practical efficiency consideration.
FPS directly affects the file size of uncompressed video, since higher frame rates contain more frames per second of content. In compressed video formats, the relationship is less direct because compression efficiency varies, but higher FPS videos with equivalent content and encoding settings will generally produce larger files than lower FPS equivalents. The bitrate, resolution, and compression settings all interact with FPS to determine final file size.
The FPS required for slow-motion depends on how slow you want the final footage to appear and how smooth you need the slow-motion to be. To create 4x slow motion that plays back at 24 FPS with full smoothness, you need to capture at 96 FPS or higher. For 10x slow motion at 24 FPS playback, you need around 240 FPS capture. Consumer cameras typically support up to 240 FPS for slow motion; professional high-speed cameras can capture thousands of FPS for extreme slow motion effects.
AI video generation tools typically include FPS as a generation parameter that determines the temporal resolution of the output. Setting FPS at the generation stage ensures that the produced clip has the correct frame timing for its intended use. Some tools generate at a fixed frame rate and rely on post-production frame interpolation to achieve higher rates, while others support native generation at the specified FPS as a direct parameter of the generation process.
