Design Glossary and Designer Terms

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z 

A

Absolute Leading
The fixed amount of space between lines of text, generally measured in points.
Ascender
The part of lowercase letters extending above the body or "x-height".
Acrobat
An Adobe program used to create and use pdf (portable document format) files that enable the file to be viewed on almost any computer operating system.
Aliasing
A jagged look of an image or type that happens when the resolution is inadequate or when images have been increased. The square pixels that make up the image are then visable to the naked eye. See also jaggies.
Alignment
Placing images or type to line up with an invisible grid or in relation to one another. This can be done vertically or horizontally. Text can be aligned to the left, right, center or justified.
Ampersand
The character "&" that is used to depict the word "and".
Animated GIF
A feature of the GIF89a (Graphics Interchange Format) file format containing two or more images that simulates motion/animation when viewed in a browser. The motion/animation can repeat continuously or play only once.
Anti Aliasing
Blending the color/pixels at the edge of an image or type with the background to smooth out the jagged edges.
Axis
In Graphic Design, a line on a graph or grid used to show the position of a point. The plural of axis is axes.

B
Background
The area of an image or website that the principal objects or foreground sits.
Banding
An abnormality occuring in gradations causing a stair-stepped appearance. Introducing noise to a gradient will help to reduce banding.
Bandwidth
The measure of the speed of information or data as it flows between two points along a communications pipeline. Usually measured in bits per second or bps.
Baseline
An imaginary line determined by the flat base of a lowercase letter such as "m". The baseline establishes the base of a block of text. All upper and lowercase letters rest on this imaginary line.
Baseline Shift
Applying this attribute to a character of type moves it up or down from the baseline.
Bézier Curve
A type of curved line between two points (called control points). The curved line is defined by a mathematical formula and is used primarily in drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand.
Bitmap
A data file or document that corresponds bit for bit with an image displayed on a screen. A bitmap image is resolution dependent, opposed to vector graphics which are resolution independent.
Bleed
Printing that extends to the edge of the paper. This is done by printing beyond the trim marks on an oversized sheet and then trimming back to the desired size.
Blueline
A blue photographic proof, made from actual printing plates, used to check positioning of images and text before a piece goes to print.
Bullet
A dot at the beginning of a line or phrase used to get attention.
C
Camera Ready
Artwork that is completed and ready for photographic/digital conversion to film/plates for commercial printing.
Caption
A short explanation or description normally positoned below a photo or image.
Case Sensitive
Terminology used to indicate that inputing upper or lowercase characters into a field are significant.
Center Spread
The two facing pages appearing in the center of a publication.
CMYK
Represents the colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. These are primary printing process colors. Black is shown by the letter K which stands for the key plate, a printing plate that helps position and register other colors.
Color Separation
A method of preparing color artwork for printing by separating it into individual colors using either process color separation or spot color separation.
Continuous Tone
Any image containing a virtually unlimited range of tones from the lightest to the darkest.
Copywriting
Creating copy especially for advertising and promotion.
Crop
Trimming an image to fit a given space. Also this technique is used to eliminate unwanted parts of an image.
Crop Marks
Marks at the corner of an image pointing out where to trim a printed page. Also called trim marks or corner marks.
D
Descender
The part of lowercase letters extending below the body or "x-height".
Direct to Plate
Directly exposing image data onto printing plates without using film.
Direct to Press
Directly transferring image data to printing cylinders in a printing press, eliminating film and printing plates.
Document
A file created on a computer by software. Known also as a data file.
Double Truck
Any two facing pages of a publication where the content traverses the gutter to cover the two center pages of a section. Also known as a truck or double-page spread.
DPI
Dots Per Inch. The number of dots that can be printed per inch. The more dots per inch, the greater the resolution and final output quality of an image.
Drop Shadow
An offset shadow behind an image or text, giving a sense of depth.
Duotone
Combining two exposures with different screen angles using the same original artwork to increase depth, tonal range and detail of a printed image. A technique mixing two colors, providing a richer toned image than a monotone image. This can be an effective design method when using limited colors is necessary.
E
Element
Any object in a drawing application such as text, a shape, a line, a photo or an image.
Emboss
Adding depth to text or graphics in a computer application, making an object look carved or raised from a background. In printing, impressing a design into the surface of a paper so that text or images are raised from the surface.
EM
The width occupied by the capital letter "M" in a normal font. (not a condensed or expanded font)
Emulsion
A photosensitive chemical coating used on on photographic film, paper, or glass.
EN
Half the width of an em.
EPS
Encapsulated PostScript. A PostScript graphic file format that includes comments giving information such as bounding boxes, page numbers and fonts used.
Export
Saving a file from an application in a different or appropriate format to be used by another application or operating system.
F
FAQ
Simply frequently asked questions.
Feather
A progressive fading away of the edge of an image, blending it with the background. Feathering tools are found in image editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop.
File
A collection of data stored on a disk. This can be a document, an application or resource.
File Extension
An optional addition to the file name as an abbreviated suffix at the end of a filename. (such as photo.eps) It is used to describe the file type or application that created the file. It is always separated from the filename by a period.
Filename
A name given to a particular file.
Folio
A page number or the system of numbering pages.
Font
A complete set of type characters of one size and face.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A common system for sending files between computers across the internet or over a network.
G
GIF
Graphics Interchange Format. A compact image format developed by CompuServe that displays up to 256 colors. It works well on website graphics such as cartoons or line drawings that use only a few colors. Later new features were added in GIF89a that enabled animation, interlacing and transparency.
Gradient
A smooth progression from one color or tone to another involving two or more colors.
Graphic Design
The art of designing printed or electronic forms of visual communication, such as advertisements, logos or websites.
Grayscale
A continuous tone image comprised of grays from white to black. In printing, a grayscale image is made up of only black ink. The value of gray is defined by the density and size of the black dots printed.
H
Halftone
A process that will reproduce a continous tone image on a press by splitting up the image into a pattern of dots. The dots vary in size, determining tones or shades.
Hairline Rule
Generally the thinnest line likely to print. This is usually .25 of a point.
HTML
The abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. A cross-platform text-formatting system for creating web pages, including copy, images, sounds, frames, animation and more.
HLS
A color model that characterizes colors by hue, lightness and saturation.
HSB
A color model that characterizes colors by hue, saturation and brightness.
HSV
A color model that characterizes colors by hue, saturation and value.
Hue
Hue is the actual color of an object. Hue is pure spectral color that distinguishes one color from another.
I
Image Editor
A pixel-based application (such as Adobe Photoshop) used for manipulating scanned or computer generated images.
Image Map
A website term that refers to an image containing embedded links to urls, images or documents. A link is activated when clicking on the proper area of the image.
Interlaced GIF
A feature of the GIF89a (Graphics Interchange Format) file format that displays images in two passes of alternating lines rather than loading images one line at a time.
Internet
The interconnected structure of networks connecting computers around the world.
Italic
Letterforms that slant. (like this)
J
Jacket
An outer covering for a book. The jacket folds around the book, but does not attach to it. Originally created to protect the binding and keep out dust, but now used for more for marketing purposes.
Jaggies
A jagged look of an image or type that happens when the resolution is inadequate or when images have been increased. The square pixels that make up the image are then visable to the naked eye. Also called aliasing.
Java
A programming language created by Sun Microsystems. Java is primarily used for applying dynamic effects to websites in the form of downloadable, stand-alone applications called "applets". Java applets can run in Java-capable web browsers or any system/setting that supports Java.
JavaScript
Netscape's cross-platform scripting language that provides a more simple method (as opposed to Java) of applying dynamic effects to websites. Microsoft supports a similar language called JScript.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group is the name of the committee that designed the standard image compression algorithm. The JPEG file format was designed for compressing full color or grayscale digital images such as photographs. It does not work so well on images that use only a few colors.
Justification
Distributing space between words and letters in lines of text so that the left and right edges are "flush", with the exception of the last line in a paragraph. Also called justified.
K
K
Represents the color black, a primary printing process color. Black is shown by the letter K which stands for the key plate, a printing plate that helps position and register other colors.
Kearning
Adjusting (increasing or decreasing) the space between adjoining type characters.
Kearning Pair
Two adjoining type characters to which a particular kearning value is applied.
Kearning Value
The space between two adjoining type characters. This value is usually measured in em.
Key Letters/Numbers
Letters or numbers added to specific images or pictures on a page that link to a corresponding caption.
Keyline
A line drawing that indicates the size, shape and position for elements such as halftones and type.
Key Plate
A printing term referring to a printing plate (usually the black plate) used as a guide to position and register additional colors.
Knockout
A printing process used to "knockout" an area of the background color by a foreground object that has been masked off. The background area being masked off does not print.
L
Landscape
An image or page in a horizontal format, where the width is greater than the height.
Layout
The process of positioning text and graphics on a page. Also the design of a page or book. This can include page size, page numbers, type size, typeface and titles.
Leading
The spacing or distance between lines of type. Normally measured in points.
Line Art
Artwork comprised of only black and white components with no continuous tones.
Logo
A symbol, name or design consisting of type and/or artwork, symbolizing a product or an organization's identity.
Loupe
A small lens used to examine the quality of printing proofs, film, photographs, transparencies, etc. Some have built in measurements (pictured), light sources and adjustable focus.
LPI
Lines Per Inch. When photographs or shades or tints of a color are printed, they're screened. The LPI represents the number of rows of dots per each inch. A greater number produces greater resolution.
M
Margin
The outer blank area surrounding pictures and text on a page.
Masthead
The title of a newspaper, newsletter or publication appearing on the front page. Also called a nameplate.
Meta Tag
An HTML tag that provides search engines information such as descriptions and keywords pertaining to a specific website.
Moiré
An unwanted pattern occuring in halftone reproduction due to positioning dot screens at the wrong angles or poor registration. Moiré also occurs when scanning an image that has a halftone screen without without using a descreening filter.
N
Nameplate
The title of a newspaper, newsletter or publication appearing on the front page. Also called a masthead.
Noise
A random appearance of pixels on an image to create an effect or decrease definition.
O
Opacity
The density of an image, color or tonal value. Also the measure of transparency of type or an image.
Outline
The outside edge of text or a graphic.
Overprint
To print two or more colors in a way so they overlap. This printing technique is used to prevent gaps from turning up between colors or to add a third color.
P
Pica
A printer's unit of type size. A pica is equal to 12 points or about 1/6 of an inch. Used for determining the measurement of lines, illustrations, or printed pages.
Pixel
The smallest unit of a digital image or picture on a monitor or video display.
Point Size
Measurement used to indicate the size of type.
Portrait
An image or page in a vertical format, where the height is longer than the width.
PostScript Type
A digital font technology based on the Adobe PostScript language. One PostScript file is used for screen display and one for printing.
PPI
Pixels Per Inch. The number of pixels that can be displayed on a monitor per inch.
Progressive JPEG
A JPEG file format used to display an image progressively in steadily increasing resolutions as data is downloaded in a browser.
Q
QuarkXPress
A popular page layout program from Quark, Inc.
QuickTime
Apple's mulimedia technology for integrating full-motion video, sound, text and animation into a single file.
R
Raster
An image or graphic defined by pixels. A rasterized image can be very detailed, such as a photograph, but lacks the ability to be resized without loss of quality.
Resolution
The maximum number of pixels that can be displayed on a monitor. Also the degree of quality with which an image is reproduced or displayed.
RGB
Represents the colors Red, Green and Blue. Mixing these three colors can display most of the visible color spectrum on a monitor. Primarily used for video and web graphics.
Rule
A printed or displayed line used to separate text or graphics.
Runaround
A page layout term that refers to the way text can be wrapped around the edges of an image or shape. Sometimes called text wrap.
S
Sans Serif
A typeface without serifs.
Saturation
The various levels of color intensity in an image. A highly saturated image appears vivid. A low saturated image appears dull or pastel.
Screen Font
The font that's displayed on a computer screen, resembling the printer font and showing approximately how the type will print.
Selection
An area of an image that is selected for editing, leaving the rest of the image protected.
Serif
Short cross-strokes or finishing strokes in the letterforms of a typeface.
T
Text Wrap
A page layout term that refers to the way text can be wrapped around the edges of an image or shape. Sometimes called runaround.
Thumbnail
A reduced image of a graphic or page, used in order to view several images on a screen at one time. This enables downloading images more quickly.
TIFF
Tagged Image File Format. A graphic file format used for high resolution bitmapped images.
Tint
A shade of a color made by adding white to a solid color.
Tracking
Adjusting (increasing or decreasing) the space between type characters in a selected allotment of text.
Transparent GIF
A feature of the GIF89a image file format that lets a designer designate one color in the image's palette as transparent. This enables the background to show through designated parts of an image.
Trapping
Printing one ink over another, preventing gaps or misregistration between two adjacent elements.
Trim Marks
Marks at the corner of an image pointing out where to trim a printed page. Also called crop marks or corner marks.
Truck
Any two facing pages of a publication where the content traverses the gutter to cover the two center pages of a section. Also known as a double truck or double-page spread.
True Type
A digital font technology developed as alternative to PostScript. One True Type file is used for screen display and printing.
Type
A number, letter or glyph drawn in a huge variety of designs, sizes and weights that belongs to a type family.
Typeface
The style or design of a font such as Helvetica. For example, the type family Helvetica contains the typefaces Helvetica, Helvetica Bold, Helvetica Italic and Helvetica Bold Italic. Whereas 10pt Helvetica Bold refers to a font.
Type Family
A full range typefaces that are variations on the same design.
U
Unsharp Mask
A sharpening method that sharpens images without the graininess that appears with most other sharpening methods.
URL
The abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator. An address that refers to a designated document on the Internet.
V
Value
Used to describe color brightness.
Vector Graphic
An image stored and displayed in terms of vectors instead of points. A vector image is defined by lines and mathematical calculations (rather than pixels such as in a bitmap). Images created in vector based programs such as Illustrator or Freehand allow a designer to resize images easily without loss of quality.
Vignette
An image that lacks a defined border. A photo or illustration in which the tones gradually fade away until blending with the background.
W
Watermark
A semi-transparent design imprinted on paper during manufacturing that is evident when the paper is held up to light. Also a method of encoding a digital image with information to discourage unauthorized use.
Weight
Light, medium, bold (in reference to type).
White Space
Open space between type, graphics or any element on a page.
WYSIWYG
The abbreviation for What You See Is What You Get.
WWW
The abbreviation for the World Wide Web. It is the entire collection of web servers all over the world that are connected to the Internet.
X
X-Axis
The horizontal axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system. In Graphic Design, a horizontal line on a graph or grid used to show the position of a point. Can also be one of three axes in a three-dimensional coordinate system (x, y, z coordinates).
X, Y Coordinates
The point at which data is located on a two-dimensional coordinate system.
XHTML
The abbreviation for Extensible Hypertext Mark-up Language. A hybrid of XML and HTML.
Y
Y-Axis
The vertical axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system. In Graphic Design, a vertical line on a graph or grid used to show the position of a point.
Z
Zero Point
In an application, the origin of horizontal and vertical axes or rulers.
Zip
Also known as a Zip Disk. A portable storage disk created by Iomega, used in a removable storage device called a Zip Drive.
Zoom
In an application, a tool or feature that enables you to enlarge a portion of an image or document.