QCIF, CIF

Common Intermediate Format
(CIF, or Full CIF (FCIF) to distinguish it from Quarter CIF (QCIF)) A video

format used in videoconferencing systems, which supports both NTSC and PAL signals, with

a data rate of 30 frames per second (fps), with each frame containing 288 lines and 352 lumin

ance pixels per line. CIF is part of the ITU H.261 videoconferencing standard.



QCIF, a related video format standard, transfers one fourth as much data as CIF. QCIF is

defined in ITU H.261 as having 144 lines and 176 pixels per line, with half as many

chrominance pixels in each direction. QCIF is suitable for videoconferencing systems that

use telephone lines. The codec standard specifies that QCIF compatibility is mandatory, and

CIF compatibility is optional.


Format NTSC-based PAL-based
SQCIF 128 × 96
QCIF 176 × 120 176 × 144
CIF 352 × 240 352 × 288
4CIF 704 × 480 704 × 576
9CIF 1056 × 720 1056 × 864
16CIF 1408 × 960 1408 × 1152
D1 720 × 486 720 × 576
SIF 352 × 240 352 × 288
SIF* 360 × 240 360 × 288