Graphics Terms

Animated gif

The GIF format supports multiple "frames" that give the impression of motion when displayed in sequence, much like a flip book.

Jpeg

An image file compressed in this format.

Pixel

The smallest element of an image that can be individually processed in a video display system.

Bmp

This is the only graphics format where compression actually enlarges the file. The format is widely used nonetheless

Flip

An early language for pattern-matching on Lisp structures, similar to CONVERT.

Video

Moving images stored as a sequence of static images (called "frames") representing snapshots of the scene, taken at regularly spaced time intervals, e.g 50 frames per second.

Crop

Resizing and adjusting an image.

Mirror

Writing duplicate data to more than one device (usually two hard disks), in order to protect against loss of data in the event of device failure.

Fps (frames per second)

How many frames are taken every second.

Frame

One complete scan of the active area of a display screen. Each frame consists of a number N of horizontal scan lines, each of which, on a computer display, consists of a number M of pixels. N is the vertical resolution of the display and M is the horizontal resolution.

Morph

Cause to change shape in an computer or animation.

Cpu

Central processing unit: the key component of a computer system, which contains the circuitry necessary to interpret and execute program instructions.

Dpi
Dots per inch: a measure of resolution used for printed text or images, the more dots per inch, the higher the resolution.

Resolution

The maximum number of pixels that can be displayed on a monitor, expressed as (number of horizontal pixels) x (number of vertical pixels), i.e., 1024x768. The ratio of horizontal to vertical resolution is usually 4:3, the same as that of conventional television sets.

File Extension

A file name extension is a suffix to the name of a computer file applied to indicate the encoding convention (file format) of its contents.

Compression

The coding of data to save storage space or transmission time.

Frame Buffer

Part of a video system in which an image is stored, pixel by pixel and which is used to refresh a raster image.

Colour Depth

Is a computer graphics term describing the number of bits used to present the colour of a single pixel.