Graphic Arts Terms

• Application- another name for a computer program.
• aiff - Audio format for macintosh computers. It is not compressed.

• Analog -Almost everything in the world can be described or represented in one of two forms: analog or digital. The principal feature of analog representations is that they are continuous. In contrast, digital representations consist of values measured at discrete intervals.

• Anchor point - An anchor point is created when using the pen tool by clicking the mouse. They can be moved by using the direct selection tool (white arrow).

• bandwidth-This is the capacity of a network, the "room" it has to carry data signals. Think in terms of plumbing: it's the size of the pipe. The bigger the pipe, the faster the data moves. Bandwidth becomes a crucial issue when one tries to send and receive high-intensity graphics, video, and sound files over the Net

• bits-Although bits of data are often very small, this term actually is an abbreviation for binary digit. Almost every piece of information in your computer is translated into a 0 or a 1 for quick processing. Even words, colors and images are "seen" by the computer in bit or binary form. 1110111-1101111-1110111! (ummm...that means WOW!)
• BMP - Standard bit mapped graphics format. A picture file using pixels.

• browser-Software used to navigate the World Wide Web , a browser allows you to access hypertext files and/or web pages . Graphical browsers like Netscape or Microsoft's Explorer allow you to view graphical elements that may be embedded on a web page
• compression -Storing data in a format that requires less space than usual.
• CPU - Central processing unit - The computer's "brain"

• Desktop - In graphical user interfaces, a desktop is the metaphor used to portray file systems. Such a desktop consists of pictures, called icons, that show cabinets, files, folders, and various types of documents (that is, letters, reports, pictures). You can arrange the icons on the electronic desktop just as you can arrange real objects on a real desktop -- moving them around, putting one on top of another, reshuffling them, and throwing them away.

• digital -Your computer processes most information in a digital format. At the most basic level of your computer's "mind," everything is translated into a series of 0's and 1's. See also analog and bits .

• Direction point - Direction points are created by clicking and then dragging the pen tool. They can be modified or changed by using the direction selection tool (white arrow)

• Directory - A directory is another name for a folder. It is indicated or seen as a slash in the URL
• DOC - document format, usually a text file.

• Download - Saving information from a web page to your computer. Often done by dragging and dropping on to your desktop. The Internet is full of files (applications, graphics, sound clips, and more) available for you to use, but first you have to move them onto your hard drive. Downloading is the process of moving files from a network into your home computer.

• domain name -Computers on the Internet are assigned domain names. Think of it like the computer's telephone number or street address. Every domain name has a suffix which signifies what sort of entity it is. For example, most business addresses end with a .com (pronounced "dot-com"), and universities have a .edu suffix.
• DPI - Abbreviation of dots per inch, which indicates the resolution of images
• DVD -optical disk technology similar to the CD-ROM. A DVD holds a minimum of 4.7GB of data

• EPS - Abbreviation of Encapsulated PostScript. Pronounced as separate letters, EPS is the graphics file format used by the PostScript language.

• Extension - Abbreviation after the file name that indicates the format or type of file. For example (.gif, .jpeg, .html)

• File - A collection of data or information that has a name, called the filename. Almost all information stored in a computer must be in a file. There are many different types of files: data files, text files , program files, directory files, and so on. Different types of files store different types of information. For example, program files store programs, whereas text files store text.
• .fla - An editable flash file.

• FTP-Short for File Transfer Protocol, this is the Internet service used to move files from one computer to another or from one network to another.

• .gif-Short for Graphics Interchange Format, a .gif is a way to encode color graphics for easy transfer over networks. It is a picture format using pixels.
• GUI - Acronym for graphical user interface.

• gigabyte - 1000 megabytes

• HTML-Short for HyperText Markup Language, this is the language or marking system people use to create hypertext documents like web pages .
• hyperlink - An element in an electronic document that links to another place in the same document or to an entirely different document

• icon - A small picture that represents an object or program.
• Input device -Any machine that feeds data into a computer.

• .jpeg-This is a compression standard for graphic files developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. jpg's are picture files using pixels.

• Link
  • Absolute link - A link that goes directly to a website. It contains the entire URL for example http://www.yahoo.com
  • Relative link - A link from one page in a website to another page in the same site.

   

• Megabyte -
  • When used to describe data storage, 1000 kilobytes. Megabyte is frequently abbreviated as M or MB.
  • When used to describe data transfer rates, as in MBps (megabytes per second), it refers to one million bytes.

   

• midi -Pronounced middy, an acronym for musical instrument digital interface, a standard adopted by the electronic music industry for controlling devices, such as synthesizers and sound cards, that emit music.

   

• mpeg - an internet compatible movie file.
• mp3 - a medium quality, internet compatible, audio file.
• mp4 - a high quality, internet compatible, audio file. Sometimes called AAC format.

• Mode - In phototshop it is necessary to choose a color mode for example RGB, CMYK, or index.
• Output device -Any machine capable of representing information from a computer. This includes display screens, printers, plotters, and synthesizers.
• PDF - portable document file

• Pixel - short for picture element. One dot in a picture file.

• Pixel graphic - Any graphic or picture composed of pixels
• plug and play -Refers to the ability of a computer system to automatically configure expansion boards and other devices.
• psd - photo shop document. This is the native format for Adobe Photoshop. It is uncompressed and can contain layer information.

• Publish - This means that you upload or transfer files from a local computer to a server.
• RAM - Random access memory.n common usage, the term RAM is synonymous with main memory, the memory available to programs.
• ROM - Read only memeory. Once data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be removed and can only be read.

• Resolution - How many dots in a linear inch (ppi or dpi). The higher the resolution, the better the quality and the larger the file size.

• Root Folder-The folder kept on your desktop that contains all necessary files for a website. This includes html files and jpg's and gif's.

• Server - A computer that is always on (as long as it's not broken or "down") and can be accessed by other computer via the internet or a network.

• site map-A graphic representation of a whole website. Looks something like a family tree.
• storage device -A device capable of storing data. The term usually refers to mass storage devices, such as disk and tape drives.

• .swf - A flash file. (shock wave flash) This is a "playable" format meaning it could be a game or a cartoon.
• tiff - Acronym for tagged image file format, one of the most widely supported file formats. Tiff's are NOT compressed. It supports layers and is a picture file using pixels.

• upload-If you create a file on your home computer and want to send it to others on your BBS, you need to upload it first. See download , which is just the reverse.

• URL This is an abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator. Documents on the Web all have their own URL or address. As the popularity of the Web explodes, you'll find URL's everywhere -- in commercials, on billboards, on business cards, and even in .sig files. Here's an example of a URL: http://www.echonyc.com/ . The "http" is a common prefix in these addresses and stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol.

• Vector graphic - In computer graphics, a line that is defined by its start and end point.
• wav -The format for storing sound in files developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM. It is NOT compressed.

• web page-This is what we call a hypertext document on the Web . Each web page has its own URL .

• web site-This is either a single web page or a collection of them. Multiple pages in a site are linked together with hyperlinks .
• Harmony & Unity

• In order to create harmony and unity, you must design a page or site using consistency and repetition.

  Harmony is fostered by:

  * Similar fonts and colors
  * pictures which match the topic
  * graphics which are similar in tone

  Unity can be fostered by:

  * ensuring that all the items which are present on a page appear to belong together
  * different pages in the site are similar in content and design.

  Visual identity can be very important in a unified site design - similarity amongst pages ties a site together and gives it a feeling of wholeness.

• Art Director - Individually, the art director is mostly responsible for the visual look and feel of the creative product

• Layout Procedure
  The sequence followed for preparing graphic layout materials is drawing thumbnail sketches, rough layout, and comprehensive layout. Several thumbnail sketches are usually prepared. The selection is made by the person who is ordering the product.
• 
• The rough layout is made up of the thumbnail sketch chosen. This layout is generally the same size as the final product and contains all of the copy and illustrations. Alterations can be easily made between the thumbnail sketch to the rough layout, and again between the rough and the comprehensive layout.
• 
• The comprehensive layout is based upon the general arrangements of the thumbnail sketch and the rough layout. This is a precision layout which permits the customer to see what the final product will look like. The overlay sheet generally attached to the base sheet is used to indicate how the final product should be produced.