Photo Glossary

Palette

A computer graphics term describing the collection of colors or shades available to a graphics system or program.

Pan

A camera technique in which the point of view is adjusted by moving the camera direction along the horizontal plane.

Panchromatic

Photo material that is sensitive to all colors that the human eye can perceive.

Panchromatic film

Black & white film that is sensitive to all colours of the visible spectrum.

Panning

A technique of photographing where you follow the subject through the camera lens along a horizontal path. This creates a blurred background and a sharp subject.

Panorama

A series of images stitched together to create a picture wider than what the camera is normally capable of capturing.

Parallax

The difference between the image seen by the lens and the viewfinder.

PCX

A PC file format used for graphics.

Pentaprism

A prism that allows to view the image while focusing.

Peripheral

The name used to describe any accessories that connect to a computer such as card reader, printer or scanner.

Perspective

The visual representation of three dimensional space in a two dimensional medium.

Photo manipulation

Is the technique of modifying a photographic image.

Photo manipulation program

Software that offers the tools necessary to alter a photo image.

Photo retouching

To improve a photo image using the tools available in a photo manipulation program. Improvements can include everything from more refined colors to improved clarity.

Photo scanner

An optical scanner designed for scanning photos only, as opposed to scanners that can scan large illustrations or pages of text.

Photo-sharing software

As opposed to photo-editing software, photo-sharing software is primary goals are to import, organize, and share digital photos. Depending upon the program, users might share photos through email, photo-sharing Web pages, calendars, or e-cards. Photo-sharing software may also have a few basic photo-editing tools.

Photoflood

Tungsten light source with a metal reflector.

Photogram

Where an image is formed by placing an object directly onto printing paper and exposing it to a light source.

Photography

It is writing with light.

Photolamp

Tungsten filament photographic lamp with a large diffused bulb, giving light of 3200 K.

Photomacrography

Extremely close up photography using bellows or extension tubes to obtain a magnification larger than life size.

Photometer

Instrument for measuring light being reflected from a surface. Also called a light meter

Photomicrography

Photographs taken using the camera attached to a microscope.

Photomix

It is a composite picture made from several photographs.

Photon

Particle of light energy.

Photoshop

The image manipulation software for professional and advanced digital image makers.

PICT

A Macintosh file format used for graphics.

Pinhole camera

A camera with a fixed aperture made by poking a hole in a piece of metal.

Pixel

It is a a single point in a graphic image.

Pixellation

Occurs when pixels are large enough to be seen individually.

Plane

An imaginary line, flat area or field which lies perpendicular to the optical axis.

Polarization

This is the use of specific filters to control the direction light travels. Effects include the reduction of glare and reflections and the saturation of colors, especially in landscapes.

Polarized light

Rays of light that have been restricted to vibrate in one plane only.

Polarizing filter

Colorless gray filter which rotate on an axis so that the polarizing effect can be increased or decreased.

Polaroid camera

An instant picture camera designed for Polaroid materials.

Pop Art

It is art style. Pop art started in Britain in the 1950s and spread to America in the 1960's. Pop artists used popular culture in their works. Andy Warhol was a key figure in Pop Art.

Portrait lens

Lenses produced specifically for portraiture.

Positive

This is a photographic image in which light and dark correspond to the tonal range of the original subject.

Posterization

The effect produced when a photographic image is displayed or printed with a small number of colors or shades of gray.

PPI

Pixels per inch. The measurement of resolution for display or print elements.

Primary colors

Three colors (red, yellow, and blue), which when combined at various proportions can produce every other color.

Prime lens

A lens with a single, fixed focal length.

Principal axis

Imaginary line which passes through the center of curvature of all the lens elements.

Principal point

A point from where the focal length of the lens is measured. The principal point of a simple lens is located at the center of the lens.

Print

Is an image which has been produced by the action of light on paper or similar material coated with a light sensitive emulsion.

Prism

A piece of transparent material that is capable of bending light.

Processing

Chemical process where a latent photographic image is converted to a stable visible image.

Projector

A device used to display enlarged images on to a screen.