Digital Media Unit 1 Vocab

Accessibility

In the context of Illustrator, the level at which files cater to those with needs, such as vision-impaired and hearing-impaired.

Aspect Ratio

The proportion of an image's width and height.

Attribution

The crediting of another author for a work one is using as a project or part of a project.

Balance

Organizing the visual weight in a design for equal distribution through strategic spacing.

Bit Depth

A measurement indicating, in binary form, the number of colors available for a color mode.

Bitmap

A legacy file format that supports millions of colors.

BY

A Creative Commons license that refers to attribution use, meaning an artist will need to credit the original author for the work they are using.

Change Orders

Formal changes to a project scope, which should be formally requested and approved or denied.

Collaboration

The act of working together on files saved to Adobe Creative Cloud.

CMYK

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) is a color mode that colors objects with a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Color Mode

The type of color format for a file, which includes RGB or CMYK.

Commercial Use

The use of a work in such a way that one can charge for that use.

Control Panel

A dynamic bar near the top of the Illustrator window. The bar shows different options depending on the type of object selected on the screen.

Copyright

A term that defines that the original creator has exclusive rights for the use and distribution of their work.

Demographics

The collection of data for a group of individuals. In this context, the statistical makeup of people in a target audience.

Depth of Field

The distance between the nearest and furthest objects that are in focus in a picture.

Derivative Works

Creations that include major copyright-protected elements of an original.

Design Process

The order of steps needed to get a sketch to eventually become a finished product.

Draft

A design of a project that is meant to look like the finished product.

Emphasis

The idea of making an object stand out over others, thus creating a focal point.

Fair Dealing

The international version of the Fair Use doctrine and applies to specific purposes for use, such as research, reviews, and reporting.

Fair Use Doctrine

The limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission.

Feedback Loop

The order in which feedback is presented on an aspect of a project.

File Management

A project process that covers where files are stored and how they will be accessed, edited, and saved.

Font

The overall look and feel of the characters used for a block of text.

Foreground

Contains in-focus elements that appear closest to the viewer.

Form

A three-dimensional object that has depth

Framing

A design concept in which objects are placed around another object to emphasize that object.

Gamut

The range of colors that are available on a given file.

Gestalt

The principle of focus on cognitive behaviors in a design referring to the theory that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Grayscale

A color mode that renders an object with colors that are shades of gray

HSB

Hue, Saturation, and Brightness (HSB) is a color mode in which the hue sets a color, saturation sets the intensity, and brightness sets the brightness for that color.

Image Size

The length and width of an image usually measured in pixels.

Intellectual Property

A work or invention that results from creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.

Iteration

A cycle of a design plan.

Kerning

The space between two characters.

Licensing

The act of getting written permission to use copyrighted material.

Line

A path moving through space

Location Release

A signed document for a location that allows an artist to use footage of the specified location in a project

Model Release

A signed document allowing an artist to use someone's likeness or image in a project.

Movement

The illusion that an item on a drawing is moving.

NC

A Creative Commons license that refers to non-commercial use, meaning an artist can use the work if they do not charge for it.

ND

Creative Commons license that refers to NoDerivs use, meaning the work can be used but cannot be altered

Negative Space

The space around and between the subject of design.

Object

In the context of Illustrator, an image or vector graphic used as part of a project.

Pixel

A dot with color that makes up part of a raster graphic

Process Color

A color made using CMYK, RGB, HSB, or other color mode.

Project Life Cycle

The phases of a project, which include planning and analysis, designing, building, testing, implementing and publishing.

Project Scope

The definition of a particular project such as the how, why, and when of the project.

Prototype

A mockup of a project that does not contain live data.

Proximity

The idea of using equal spacing in a design.

Public Domain

Works that have become free for use

Raster

An image created by pixels.

Rasterize

The process of converting a vector image into a raster image

Render

The process of taking an image and applying a filter to make it look as realistic as possible

Repetition

The idea of using the same pattern or color repeatedly in a design.

Resolution

The amount of dots or pixels per inch on an image or drawing.

Resources

The items needed to complete a project, which can include equipment and other tangible items needed

RGB

Green, Blue (RGB) is a color mode that uses combinations of red, green, and blue to color objects.

Rhythm

The idea of consistency within a design.

Rule of Thirds

The idea of having vertical and horizontal thirds in a design, with the object of emphasis placed on a third rather than the middle of the design.

SA

A Creative Commons license that refers to ShareAlike use, meaning that when the work is used, it must retain the same licensing that applied to the original work when shared.

Scale

The sizing of elements in relation to one another within a design

Scope Creep

The act of unauthorized changes to a project scope that can result in the derailment of a project timeline and budget

Shape

The contour of a flat object

Sketch

An initial drawing of the makeup of a project.

Space

The internal and external areas of a design.

Specifications

The requirements for an Illustrator project.. These specifications include the media needed, the size of the project, and how the project will be distributed.

Stock Image

An image provided by a third party for use in a document, often with a licensing fee and terms.

Style

In the context of text, the setting of text to be regular, bold, or italic.

Target Audience

A projected audience for a project.

Texture

A pattern or object that is often used as a background and to convey the mood of a design.

Timeline

The estimated time planned for the completion of a project.

Tone

The shading of light and dark on an object.

Tracking

Similar to kerning, this is the spacing between multiple characters, such as a word.

Unity

The idea of making a design uniform, tranquil, and harmonious.

Variety

The act of using a high amount of contrast within a design.

Vector Graphic

An image or drawing that is created by calculated paths.

Vertical Scale

The vertical stretching or constricting of text.

Wireframe

A visual guide that represents the overall look for a project, often a website.

Work for Hire

Work that is done for pay.

Zoom

The act of making a canvas larger or smaller within a window for visual purposes.

Budget

The estimated calculated cost of a project.