Gaudette-Net, LLC -- Basic Digital Photography Glossary

Gaudette-Net, LLC -- Sun City Grand, AZ residents can call 214-9639, M-F, 8am to 8pm

Glossary

Brightness The setting that determines the overall whiteness of the image.

Contrast A comparison between the lightest and darkest part of an image. Low contrast indicates a very gray image, while high contrast represents highly defined differences between light and dark.

Dithering Creating dots of different patterns and sizes that fool the eye into seeing various shades.

DPI Dots Per Inch, a measurement of resolution. This measurement is sometimes called PPI -- Points Per Inch.

Full Color
or True Color When a computer image has been saved with the opportunity to record over 16 million colors (24-bit), or better, it is referred to as a full color image.

Gamma The relationship between and image's brightness and contrast, usually expressed as a ratio.

Gray Scale A range of grays with regular steps from white to black. A gray scale image is an image that contains various levels (or shades) of gray.

Highlight The brightest area in an original or an image.

Histogram A distribution graph showing an image's color values.

Image The bit-mapped result of scanning an original.

JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.

Original The pictorial source in its original form, for example, artwork, a photographic print, or a color positive slide.

Pixel A single dot on a computer screen or digital image. A pixel usually has a definate X-Y location on a grid.

PNG Portable Network Graphics -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.

Resolution The fineness of detail that a device can record or produce. The higher the resolution, the finer the detail.

Shadow The darkest area in an original or an image.

TIFF Tagged Image File Format -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.

Transparency Adapter An adapter installed on a scanner to scan slides, film, and X-ray radiograms.

TWAIN A software protocol (rules) developed by leading imaging hardware and software companies to make it easier to pass pictures from digital cameras or scanners to a computer's image applications.

Brightness	The setting that determines the overall whiteness of the image.
Contrast	A comparison between the lightest and darkest part of an image. Low contrast indicates a very gray image, while high contrast represents highly defined differences between light and dark.
Dithering	Creating dots of different patterns and sizes that fool the eye into seeing various shades.
DPI	Dots Per Inch, a measurement of resolution. This measurement is sometimes called PPI -- Points Per Inch.
Full Color or True Color	When a computer image has been saved with the opportunity to record over 16 million colors (24-bit), or better, it is referred to as a full color image.
Gamma	The relationship between and image's brightness and contrast, usually expressed as a ratio.
Gray Scale	A range of grays with regular steps from white to black. A gray scale image is an image that contains various levels (or shades) of gray.
Highlight	The brightest area in an original or an image.
Histogram	A distribution graph showing an image's color values.
Image	The bit-mapped result of scanning an original.
JPEG	Joint Photographic Experts Group -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.
Original	The pictorial source in its original form, for example, artwork, a photographic print, or a color positive slide.
Pixel	A single dot on a computer screen or digital image. A pixel usually has a definate X-Y location on a grid.
PNG	Portable Network Graphics -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.
Resolution	The fineness of detail that a device can record or produce. The higher the resolution, the finer the detail.
Shadow	The darkest area in an original or an image.
TIFF	Tagged Image File Format -- an industry standard image file format supported by many applications.
Transparency Adapter	An adapter installed on a scanner to scan slides, film, and X-ray radiograms.
TWAIN	A software protocol (rules) developed by leading imaging hardware and software companies to make it easier to pass pictures from digital cameras or scanners to a computer's image applications.