GRAPHIC TERMS

By Jason Banegas

Color Correction- Adjusting the color values of a graphic to make them appear more
real or to meet the desired effect. EX red eye correction or a changing tint.
Cropping- eliminating unwanted parts of a graphic.
Scaling- Changing a graphics size dimensions (height and width).
Layering- separating components of a design individually or into groups in order to
make adjustments specific to the layer.
Filters- Preset effects applied to entire graphic used to quickly adjust a graphics
appearance.
Layer Styles- Preset effects applied to graphics and/ or text within a layer that add
depth and dimension
Hue- It is the name given the color.
Saturation- The amount of hue applied to that color.
Brightness- Show how light or dark a color can be shown by adding black for dark and
white for light
Rhythm- Creating a feeling of movement to a design

Emphasis- The Center interest of the design

Color depth- Number of distinct colors a graphic is able to display

Color Profile- A pre-determined subset of specific colors assigned to an image

Color Gamut- The range of colors that is defined by the color profile

Contrast- The separation between the darkest and brightest areas of a pictures

Dithering- If a device cannot displayed colors within a color profile like a monitor, web
pages, etc. a process called dithering peppers in pixels of similar colors to replace the color
that cannot be replaced.

Destructive Editing- Make changes to the original picture that cant be reversed once you
save or close that picture.

Exposure- The amount of light in a photo; under-exposed there is not enough light, overexposed is having to much light

Smart object- Converting a picture or graphic to a smart object allows to be in scaled,

rotated, or warped w/o losing the quality.

Visual Hierarchy- The use of design techniques to carry the viewers eye from one to the
next

White space- The absence of the text or graphics in a design: visual breathing room for the
eye: helps avoid over-exposed is too much light

Budget- The amount of money needed or available for a project

Clients feedback- A person's performance of a task, timeliness, adherence to project purpose,

etc. used as a basis for improvement

Design Comps- Multiple renditions of the design to show clients, provides a visualization of a
product before it is professionally completed

Deadlines- The latest time or date by which something should be completed

File Name Convention- Agreed upon by designers, project managers and client, refers to the
protocols that will be used when saving files

Optimization- The act or process of making a design as fully perfect, functional, or effective as
possible based on client feedback

Proof Preview- A tool in Photoshop that allows you to preview what the published version of your
work will look on a particular output device

Target Audience- A particular group at which a film, book, advertising campaign, etc., is aimed

Typography- The style and appearance of printed materials, specific identifiers include style, font,
typeface, etc.

RGB- (Red, Green, Blue) optimized for viewing on a screen

CYMK- (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black) optimized for printing purposes