Follow
Animation: Static images processed in sequence and timed to simulate motion.
Anti-Aliasing: Manipulating outlines and edges of graphics or text so that they appear smoother.
Bezier Curves: Line segments drawn with anchor points that can be manipulated to produce curves and shapes.
BMP (Bitmapped Format): A format for storing pixel color data without compression, resulting in high-quality graphics.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black): The four subtractive colors that form the basis for the process color model.
Compositing: The combination of graphic or video images into one display or frame.
Contrast: The ratio and range of light and dark values in an image; lower contrast allows for a wider tonal range.
DPI (Dots Per Inch): The number of dots contained in a 1-inch square; also referred to as PPI (pixels per inch).
Dithering: Alternating two adjacent pixel values to create the illusion of a third color.
Export: Saving a file in a format different from the original for the purpose of importing into another program or for printing.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Allows the transfer of files between a local computer system and a LAN (local area network) or the Internet.
Flash: Software for animating browser-independent vector graphics.
Four-Color Process: Printing that produces colors through the manipulation of cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Gamma: An adjustment made to monitors, scanners or images for tonal distribution to produce lighter or darker effects.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): A highly compressed image format; displays 256 colors and is easiest to animate.
Gradient: A blend resulting in a smooth transition from one color to another.
High-Resolution Image: Any image with a high DPI, producing very sharp images; high-resolution images are required for professional printing.
Hue: The color of an object measured in degrees on a color wheel.
Image Assembly: Creation of an image built from other files, often by working with layers.
Invert: Reversing colors or tonal values, so that black areas of an image become white, and white areas become black; applicable to all colors.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Electronic Group): A format that compresses an image by eliminating non-critical information.
Kerning: Adding or subtracting space between letters to enhance typographical effects.
Leading: Adding or subtracting space between lines of type.
Lossless: Image compression resulting in no data loss when downsizing; commonly employed with TIFF and GIF formats.
Motion Graphic: Technology that creates motion or transforms appearance, commonly used in video and animation.
Multimedia: Refers to any combination of animation, graphics, sound and text.
Noise: Pixels manipulated to add texture and depth to an image.
Opacity: Tonal value or image color; images are transparent at 0 percent opacity.
PDF (Portable Document Format): Allows for file sharing across platforms, regardless of operating systems.
Paste Board: The area surrounding a work space in page layout software.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics): A format that employs lossless image compression; displays well and maintains small file sizes.
QuickTime (.MOV): Cross-platform multimedia and video format; real-time files can include sound and text.
Rasterize: The process of converting vector images to BMP (bitmapped).
RGB (Red, Green, Blue): Represents the main components of white light that can be mixed to create any color.
Saturation: The controllable intensity of color in an image; higher saturation settings result in brighter colors.
Storyboard: Illustrations and text organized as an overview of multimedia or animation projects.
Thumbnail: A very small file icon representing the original image.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): Most common format for scans and photographs; the preferred file format for printing.
Vector Graphic: A resolution-independent graphic composed of paths and points.
White Point: Combination of the RGB color model at its fullest intensity; used to calibrate computer monitors.
