FOURCC.org - Video Codecs and Pixel Formats

YV12 yuv pixel format

This is the format of choice for many software MPEG codecs. It comprises an NxM Y plane followed by (N/2)x(M/2) V and U planes.

  Horizontal Vertical
Y Sample Period 1 1
V Sample Period 2 2
U Sample Period 2 2

Positive biHeight implies top-down image (top line first)

ATI says they have a download which contains this codec but I can't find it on their site. If you would like something similar for Quicktime, try here.

Child formats: YV16 I420 IMC1 CLPL