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The Design Dictionary
Abstract:
Art that is either impossible in reality or has no identifiable objects
Addition (Layer Mode):
Layer mode which makes the image much brighter
Airbrush (Tool):
Used to paint with a brush with different settings in rate and pressure
Aliasing:
When an object's edges are not blended at all, and is visibly pixelated, it is known as aliasing
Alignment (Tool):
Used to move around layers and objects
Anchor Layer:
Merges a floated layer
Anti-Aliasing:
Smoothing out pixelated borders of an object
Auto-crop Image:
Remove empty borders from the image
Background:
Objects in an image that are in the back, usually not the focal point. The are often found to be a repetitive pattern that won't detract from the focal point
Batch:
Large group of images; Usually referred to when editing a large group of images
Bevel:
Effect of raising an image to appear 3-D by lighting specific areas and shading others
Blend (Tool):
Used to create a gradient
Blur:
Blends the difference between a pixel and it's surrounding pixels together, creating a blurry effect
Blur/Sharpen (Tool):
Used to blur or sharpen parts of an image
Border:
The area that surrounds the outside of an image or object
Brush:
Usually refers to a custom brush that is downloaded from a site
Bucket Fill (Tool):
Used to fill a selected area with the foreground color or pattern
Bump Map:
Uses another layer to create an emboss effect
Burn (Layer mode):
A layer mode where the layer is much darker
Busy:
A word often used to critique someone's work that has distracting elements. Often causes of a busy piece of art are; Multiple focal points, too much text, and too many effects
C4D:
Short for Cinema4D, a program used to render 3d abstract objects. A C4D (referring to the actual art and not the program) is a 3d abstract object. Other programs like Blender can create these images
Canvas:
The visible workspace that you have your image on. The canvas is not actually part of the image size
Clone (Tool):
Used to copy one area of an image and paint it onto another area of the image
CNC:
Comments & Criticism.
Color (Layer mode):
A layer mode where the hue and saturation of the upper layer and the value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Color Picker (Tool):
Changes your current foreground color in the pallet to the color of the pixel clicked on
Color to Alpha:
Convert a specified color to transparency
Contrast:
Colors that are far apart on the color scale such as red and green or may refer to the lightness & darkness of a certain image such as black & white images
Crop:
To change the size of an image by removing selected pixels
Crop (Tool):
Used to remove edges from an image
Curves:
Orientation and saturation of colors
Darken (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where only pixels of the top layer that are darker than the ones below it are visible
De-interlace:
Restore an image that has had every other row of pixels deleted
De-saturate:
Act of converting an image to gray scale
Difference (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the color is completely inverted
Displace:
Causes pixels to be moved according to a selected layer
Divide (Layer Mode):
A layer mode that usually makes the image brighter
Dodge (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the image is usually much brighter
Dodge/Burn (Tool):
Lighten or darken certain areas of an image
DPI:
Stands for dots per inch. The difference on a computer is nonexistent but, when printing images, 300 DPI is a good number. The same as PPI, or pixels per inch
Drop Shadow:
A shadow effect that is "dropped" or moved behind and down from the original image, used to give the illusion of a 3D image
Dual Tone (Duo Tone):
An image that is shades of two colors
Duplicate:
Copy the current selection, layer, or image
Ellipse Select (Tool):
Used for selecting circular areas
Eraser (Tool):
Used to erase areas of an image
Equalize:
Act of correcting contrast
Feather:
To blur the selection border so that it fades out smoothly
Filter:
An automatic plug-in that performs a specified operation, such as blurring or sharpening
Flatten Image:
Combines all layers into one layer and removes transparency
Float:
Create a floating selection
Focal Point:
The target of the picture, what is supposed to be the highlight of the image. Sometimes brought out by blurring the background
Foreground:
Objects in an image that are in the front, usually the focal point
Foreground Select (Tool):
Used to select areas within the foreground
Free Select (Tool):
Used to select areas free hand, or by the mouse
Fuzzy Select (Tool):
Used to select an area based on color
GIF:
A file type that stands for Graphic Interchange Format. Displays only 256 colors but has a small file size and is also used for picture animations
GIMP:
Stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, a graphics program that is very similar to Photoshop but is free to download
Gradient:
A blend of two or more colors
Gradient Map:
Colors an image using two colors
Grain Extract (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where the the top layer's color is altered depending on the bottom layer
Grain Merge (Layer Mode):
Layer mode opposite of grain extract, also provides some similar color to the bottom layer
Grayscale:
To have no color other than different shades of black and white
Grow (Selection):
To make the selection larger by X amount of pixels
Grunge:
An art style that uses "dirty" looking brushes and patterns. Some examples being; dirt, cracks, and smoke
Hard Light (Layer Mode):
Layer mode which brings out the brightest parts of the layer
Healing (Tool):
Used to fix irregularities in an image
Hue:
Aspect of a color like red or blue along with saturation and lightness
Hue (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the hue of the upper layer and the saturation/value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Ink (Tool):
Used to paint in a calligraphy style
Invert:
To reverse in position, order, direction, or relationship. Used to invert color or selections
Jitter:
An effect that can be added to tools using brushes. Randomly applies the brush to areas near where the mouse is clicked
JPEG (JPG):
Stands for Joint Photographic Electronic Group. One of the most common file types for images that is usually understood to be the standard
Landscape:
An image that is wider than tall
Layer:
One slice of an image. Used in advanced image editing programs and is a basic item when creating advanced images
Layer Mask:
An addition to a normal layer that allows non-destructive editing of transparency
Lens:
An extension to a camera that magnifies how far one can see. All cameras require at least a basic lens
Lens Distortion:
A common occurrence when using a camera. Causes the picture to look deformed
Lens Flare:
A common occurrence when taking a picture with a camera when the sun is in the camera's view. Causes a light distortion across the picture
Levels:
Orientation and saturation of colors
Lighten Only (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where only pixels of the top layer that are lighter than the ones below it are visible
Line Art:
An image, usually not a finished product, that is black and white with no shading
Low Resolution:
An image that is not of the highest quality, especially when referring to prints
Mask to Selection:
Replace the selection with the layer mask
Measure (Tool):
Used to measure angles and distances in an image
Merge Layer:
Merges a layer to the layer above or below it
Merge Visible Layers:
Combines all visible layers into one layer
Multiply (Layer Mode):
Layer mode that makes a layer darker. If the layer below it is black, the top layer will be black. If the layer below it is white, nothing will change
Negative:
An image that has inverted colors; what is actually produced when developing film
Noise:
Loss of quality in an image through random pixels that were not part of the picture
Normalize:
Act of stretching brightness values to cover the full range of an image
Offset:
Shifts the pixels, optionally wrapping around
Opacity:
The adjustment of how well an image can be seen through. An image with a large number, or a high opacity, isn't as easy to see through as an image with a low opacity
Outline:
A rough sketch or planning of an image that is not the final result
Overlay (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the layer is usually darkened, and leaves behind some of the color of the top layer
Paintbrush (Tool):
Used to create a softer mark using a brush
Paths (Tool):
Used to create and edit paths, which is an advanced way of select regions
Pencil (Tool):
Used to create a hard edge mark using a brush
Pixel:
A picture element. The most basic object in a picture. Each pixel is one color
Pixelize:
Simplify the image into larger pixels
PNG:
Stands for Portable Network Graphics. An image file that is compatible with transparency
Posterize:
Act of reducing an image to a limited range of colors
PPI:
Stands for Pixels Per Inch. The difference on a computer is nonexistent, but when printing images, 300 PPI is a good number. Same as DPI, or Dots Per Inch
Profile:
Image that is more tall than wide; also used when referring to a person's face from the side
PSD:
File extension name for Photoshop. Used to save files that you wish to edit later
Quick Mask:
A method of selecting certain parts of a picture by turning the picture temporarily to red. You then erase what you don't want to be part of the selection
Raster:
Images based on a scale of pixels. Loses considerable quality when scaled, unlike a vector image
Rectangle Select (Tool):
Used to select a rectangle or square area
Red Eye:
A common side effect of taking pictures of people with a flash. Causes the person's eyes to appear red
Render:
To generate something, usually using preset parameters; an object that was cut out from it's background, resulting in the image having a transparent background when saved as a PNG
Retouching:
To make small edits to an image to improve the quality
RGB:
Color model using the base colors red, green, and blue. Used for monitors, but not for prints
Rip:
To steal someone else's work and claim it as your own
Rotate:
To move an image around to the left or right
Saturation:
How colorful an image is. An image with little saturation has a lot of gray in it
Saturation (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the saturation of the upper layer and the hue/value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Scale:
To change the size of a layer, selection, image, or brush
Scan Lines:
Thin lines close together that go in a diagonal direction
Scissors Select (Tool):
Select a region with intelligent selections that detect edges
Screen (Layer Mode):
A layer mode which usually results in the image being brighter, and a sort of washed out look. If the layer below it is black, nothing changes. If the layer below it is white, dark colors are more transparent
Select By Color (Tool):
Used to select a region with similar color
Selection:
Your current workspace. Usually signified by moving dashes or walking ants as some may call them
Sepia Tone:
Image that has a brown tint to it
Sharpen:
Makes the contrast between a pixel and it's surrounding pixels further apart
Sharpen (Selection):
To remove fuzziness from the selection
Shrink (Selection):
To make the selection smaller by X amount of pixels
Sig (Abbreviation):
Short for signature, a small piece of art usually around 350X100 to 400X200 in size, often using an outside source such as a render
Smudge (Tool):
Used to smudge one area of an image onto another area
Soft Light (Layer Mode):
A layer mode similar to overlay. Makes edges softer and colors not as bright
Subtract (Layer Mode):
A layer mode that makes the image much darker, often resulting in black areas
Threshold:
Image with only two colors
Thumbnail:
An icon of an image that has been downsized for quick and convenient viewing
TIFF:
Image file type name that stands for Tagged Image File Format. High quality and uncompressed, it has a large file size
Tileable:
When an image can be stacked next to itself on all sides, creating a pattern with no noticeable edges
Transform:
Common term generally used for changing an image's size, rotation, or position
Tut (Abbreviation):
Short for tutorial
Value (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the value of the upper layer and the saturation/hue of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Value Invert:
Act of inverting the brightness of each pixel of an image
Vector:
An art style that uses some abstract objects and other images that are one color. Some examples being; arrows, circles, semi-circles, and urban items such as lamp posts. An image that can be scaled indefinitely and not begin to pixelize
Vexel:
Art that is similar to the style of vector, but will lose quality when scaled up. Often used for smaller images to show a sharpened image
Washed Out:
An image that seems almost colorless
XCF:
File extension name for GIMP, stands for eXperimental Computing Facility. Save extension used for files you wish to edit later.
Zealous Crop:
Auto crop unused space from edges and middle
Zoom:
To increase the size of the pixels on-screen in order to make finer edits
Zoom (Tool):
Used to adjust the zoom of an image
Abstract:
Art that is either impossible in reality or has no identifiable objects
Addition (Layer Mode):
Layer mode which makes the image much brighter
Airbrush (Tool):
Used to paint with a brush with different settings in rate and pressure
Aliasing:
When an object's edges are not blended at all, and is visibly pixelated, it is known as aliasing
Alignment (Tool):
Used to move around layers and objects
Anchor Layer:
Merges a floated layer
Anti-Aliasing:
Smoothing out pixelated borders of an object
Auto-crop Image:
Remove empty borders from the image
Background:
Objects in an image that are in the back, usually not the focal point. The are often found to be a repetitive pattern that won't detract from the focal point
Batch:
Large group of images; Usually referred to when editing a large group of images
Bevel:
Effect of raising an image to appear 3-D by lighting specific areas and shading others
Blend (Tool):
Used to create a gradient
Blur:
Blends the difference between a pixel and it's surrounding pixels together, creating a blurry effect
Blur/Sharpen (Tool):
Used to blur or sharpen parts of an image
Border:
The area that surrounds the outside of an image or object
Brush:
Usually refers to a custom brush that is downloaded from a site
Bucket Fill (Tool):
Used to fill a selected area with the foreground color or pattern
Bump Map:
Uses another layer to create an emboss effect
Burn (Layer mode):
A layer mode where the layer is much darker
Busy:
A word often used to critique someone's work that has distracting elements. Often causes of a busy piece of art are; Multiple focal points, too much text, and too many effects
C4D:
Short for Cinema4D, a program used to render 3d abstract objects. A C4D (referring to the actual art and not the program) is a 3d abstract object. Other programs like Blender can create these images
Canvas:
The visible workspace that you have your image on. The canvas is not actually part of the image size
Clone (Tool):
Used to copy one area of an image and paint it onto another area of the image
CNC:
Comments & Criticism.
Color (Layer mode):
A layer mode where the hue and saturation of the upper layer and the value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Color Picker (Tool):
Changes your current foreground color in the pallet to the color of the pixel clicked on
Color to Alpha:
Convert a specified color to transparency
Contrast:
Colors that are far apart on the color scale such as red and green or may refer to the lightness & darkness of a certain image such as black & white images
Crop:
To change the size of an image by removing selected pixels
Crop (Tool):
Used to remove edges from an image
Curves:
Orientation and saturation of colors
Darken (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where only pixels of the top layer that are darker than the ones below it are visible
De-interlace:
Restore an image that has had every other row of pixels deleted
De-saturate:
Act of converting an image to gray scale
Difference (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the color is completely inverted
Displace:
Causes pixels to be moved according to a selected layer
Divide (Layer Mode):
A layer mode that usually makes the image brighter
Dodge (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the image is usually much brighter
Dodge/Burn (Tool):
Lighten or darken certain areas of an image
DPI:
Stands for dots per inch. The difference on a computer is nonexistent but, when printing images, 300 DPI is a good number. The same as PPI, or pixels per inch
Drop Shadow:
A shadow effect that is "dropped" or moved behind and down from the original image, used to give the illusion of a 3D image
Dual Tone (Duo Tone):
An image that is shades of two colors
Duplicate:
Copy the current selection, layer, or image
Ellipse Select (Tool):
Used for selecting circular areas
Eraser (Tool):
Used to erase areas of an image
Equalize:
Act of correcting contrast
Feather:
To blur the selection border so that it fades out smoothly
Filter:
An automatic plug-in that performs a specified operation, such as blurring or sharpening
Flatten Image:
Combines all layers into one layer and removes transparency
Float:
Create a floating selection
Focal Point:
The target of the picture, what is supposed to be the highlight of the image. Sometimes brought out by blurring the background
Foreground:
Objects in an image that are in the front, usually the focal point
Foreground Select (Tool):
Used to select areas within the foreground
Free Select (Tool):
Used to select areas free hand, or by the mouse
Fuzzy Select (Tool):
Used to select an area based on color
GIF:
A file type that stands for Graphic Interchange Format. Displays only 256 colors but has a small file size and is also used for picture animations
GIMP:
Stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, a graphics program that is very similar to Photoshop but is free to download
Gradient:
A blend of two or more colors
Gradient Map:
Colors an image using two colors
Grain Extract (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where the the top layer's color is altered depending on the bottom layer
Grain Merge (Layer Mode):
Layer mode opposite of grain extract, also provides some similar color to the bottom layer
Grayscale:
To have no color other than different shades of black and white
Grow (Selection):
To make the selection larger by X amount of pixels
Grunge:
An art style that uses "dirty" looking brushes and patterns. Some examples being; dirt, cracks, and smoke
Hard Light (Layer Mode):
Layer mode which brings out the brightest parts of the layer
Healing (Tool):
Used to fix irregularities in an image
Hue:
Aspect of a color like red or blue along with saturation and lightness
Hue (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the hue of the upper layer and the saturation/value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Ink (Tool):
Used to paint in a calligraphy style
Invert:
To reverse in position, order, direction, or relationship. Used to invert color or selections
Jitter:
An effect that can be added to tools using brushes. Randomly applies the brush to areas near where the mouse is clicked
JPEG (JPG):
Stands for Joint Photographic Electronic Group. One of the most common file types for images that is usually understood to be the standard
Landscape:
An image that is wider than tall
Layer:
One slice of an image. Used in advanced image editing programs and is a basic item when creating advanced images
Layer Mask:
An addition to a normal layer that allows non-destructive editing of transparency
Lens:
An extension to a camera that magnifies how far one can see. All cameras require at least a basic lens
Lens Distortion:
A common occurrence when using a camera. Causes the picture to look deformed
Lens Flare:
A common occurrence when taking a picture with a camera when the sun is in the camera's view. Causes a light distortion across the picture
Levels:
Orientation and saturation of colors
Lighten Only (Layer Mode):
Layer mode where only pixels of the top layer that are lighter than the ones below it are visible
Line Art:
An image, usually not a finished product, that is black and white with no shading
Low Resolution:
An image that is not of the highest quality, especially when referring to prints
Mask to Selection:
Replace the selection with the layer mask
Measure (Tool):
Used to measure angles and distances in an image
Merge Layer:
Merges a layer to the layer above or below it
Merge Visible Layers:
Combines all visible layers into one layer
Multiply (Layer Mode):
Layer mode that makes a layer darker. If the layer below it is black, the top layer will be black. If the layer below it is white, nothing will change
Negative:
An image that has inverted colors; what is actually produced when developing film
Noise:
Loss of quality in an image through random pixels that were not part of the picture
Normalize:
Act of stretching brightness values to cover the full range of an image
Offset:
Shifts the pixels, optionally wrapping around
Opacity:
The adjustment of how well an image can be seen through. An image with a large number, or a high opacity, isn't as easy to see through as an image with a low opacity
Outline:
A rough sketch or planning of an image that is not the final result
Overlay (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the layer is usually darkened, and leaves behind some of the color of the top layer
Paintbrush (Tool):
Used to create a softer mark using a brush
Paths (Tool):
Used to create and edit paths, which is an advanced way of select regions
Pencil (Tool):
Used to create a hard edge mark using a brush
Pixel:
A picture element. The most basic object in a picture. Each pixel is one color
Pixelize:
Simplify the image into larger pixels
PNG:
Stands for Portable Network Graphics. An image file that is compatible with transparency
Posterize:
Act of reducing an image to a limited range of colors
PPI:
Stands for Pixels Per Inch. The difference on a computer is nonexistent, but when printing images, 300 PPI is a good number. Same as DPI, or Dots Per Inch
Profile:
Image that is more tall than wide; also used when referring to a person's face from the side
PSD:
File extension name for Photoshop. Used to save files that you wish to edit later
Quick Mask:
A method of selecting certain parts of a picture by turning the picture temporarily to red. You then erase what you don't want to be part of the selection
Raster:
Images based on a scale of pixels. Loses considerable quality when scaled, unlike a vector image
Rectangle Select (Tool):
Used to select a rectangle or square area
Red Eye:
A common side effect of taking pictures of people with a flash. Causes the person's eyes to appear red
Render:
To generate something, usually using preset parameters; an object that was cut out from it's background, resulting in the image having a transparent background when saved as a PNG
Retouching:
To make small edits to an image to improve the quality
RGB:
Color model using the base colors red, green, and blue. Used for monitors, but not for prints
Rip:
To steal someone else's work and claim it as your own
Rotate:
To move an image around to the left or right
Saturation:
How colorful an image is. An image with little saturation has a lot of gray in it
Saturation (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the saturation of the upper layer and the hue/value of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Scale:
To change the size of a layer, selection, image, or brush
Scan Lines:
Thin lines close together that go in a diagonal direction
Scissors Select (Tool):
Select a region with intelligent selections that detect edges
Screen (Layer Mode):
A layer mode which usually results in the image being brighter, and a sort of washed out look. If the layer below it is black, nothing changes. If the layer below it is white, dark colors are more transparent
Select By Color (Tool):
Used to select a region with similar color
Selection:
Your current workspace. Usually signified by moving dashes or walking ants as some may call them
Sepia Tone:
Image that has a brown tint to it
Sharpen:
Makes the contrast between a pixel and it's surrounding pixels further apart
Sharpen (Selection):
To remove fuzziness from the selection
Shrink (Selection):
To make the selection smaller by X amount of pixels
Sig (Abbreviation):
Short for signature, a small piece of art usually around 350X100 to 400X200 in size, often using an outside source such as a render
Smudge (Tool):
Used to smudge one area of an image onto another area
Soft Light (Layer Mode):
A layer mode similar to overlay. Makes edges softer and colors not as bright
Subtract (Layer Mode):
A layer mode that makes the image much darker, often resulting in black areas
Threshold:
Image with only two colors
Thumbnail:
An icon of an image that has been downsized for quick and convenient viewing
TIFF:
Image file type name that stands for Tagged Image File Format. High quality and uncompressed, it has a large file size
Tileable:
When an image can be stacked next to itself on all sides, creating a pattern with no noticeable edges
Transform:
Common term generally used for changing an image's size, rotation, or position
Tut (Abbreviation):
Short for tutorial
Value (Layer Mode):
A layer mode where the value of the upper layer and the saturation/hue of the lower layer are used to result in the final image
Value Invert:
Act of inverting the brightness of each pixel of an image
Vector:
An art style that uses some abstract objects and other images that are one color. Some examples being; arrows, circles, semi-circles, and urban items such as lamp posts. An image that can be scaled indefinitely and not begin to pixelize
Vexel:
Art that is similar to the style of vector, but will lose quality when scaled up. Often used for smaller images to show a sharpened image
Washed Out:
An image that seems almost colorless
XCF:
File extension name for GIMP, stands for eXperimental Computing Facility. Save extension used for files you wish to edit later.
Zealous Crop:
Auto crop unused space from edges and middle
Zoom:
To increase the size of the pixels on-screen in order to make finer edits
Zoom (Tool):
Used to adjust the zoom of an image