Common Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Terms

What are all of the terms that you hear thrown around at your local design shop? What do they all mean?
Creative:
Relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work: change unleashes people's creative energy | creative writing. (Of a person) having good imagination or original ideas: "Homer, the creative genius of Greek epic."
 
Bearings:
The direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point. It is typically measured in degrees, usually with magnetic north as zero: the Point is on a bearing of 015°. (Getting one's bearings) awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings: "He rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to get his bearings."
 
Creative Bearings:
Offering customers high quality creative imagery, photography and copywriting with the best in optimized website coding. Providing well communicated and eye-catching, workable marketing that not only helps sell services and products, but enhances credibility.

Graphic Design:
No longer another term for "desktop publishing". Everyone can do that. Computers are faster than ever, straight out of the box. They come standard with amazing page layout programs and fonts. So why then do you need a Graphic Designer or even an Ad Agency? Because of our ideas, our innovations and our extensive work with print and publishing partners.

HTML Coding:
The nuts and bolts of a web page. We create pages that will work properly in all modern browsers. We test all pages in current versions of leading browsers.
 
Database Programming:
Provide information to your users in an organized and searchable format. We specialize in MySQL database server queried with PHP, but have also accessed databases via ASP and Perl.
 
CGI/Perl Scripting:
Server side scripting is the magic that makes websites work. Handling the data submitted by your visitors, shopping carts, database access, and generating web pages on the fly based on the users needs, are some of the many uses.
 
JavaScripting:
Client-side scripting performs many useful functions, including browser detection, form validation, and redirection.
 
Search Engine Optimization:
When developing your website we use search engine optimization, SEO, and best practices. You won't have to hire an outside company to make sure your site is as organically visible as possible. SEO is an on-going battle in order to stay ahead of the competition. We provide monthly SEO packages to keep you where you want to be. We can also manage pay-per-click advertising.
 
Black and White Photography:
Any photography that captures only entire Yellow spectrum of light, transferred to print in one color (black usually).
 
Color Photography:
Any photography that captures the entire Red/Green/Blue spectrum.
 
Digital Photography:
Using a camera that has no film, but records images in pixels. These cameras use flash cards to hold, store and download images.
 
Photographic Illustration:
Manipulated imagery using Photoshop tools and multiple photographical styles.
 
Product Photography:
Specially lighted images of for-sale items on websites and catalogs. Cosmetics, food, apparel, etc. can be shown alone or with a model.
 
Architectural Photography:
Special interior and exterior photos of homes and commercial buildings to aid in real estate sales or to show the quality of builders' and architects' work.
 
Stock Photography:
Work from a photographer where the photos are property of the photographer and can allow single and/or multiple usage. The imagery is already available.
 
Illustration:
It's handmade, original artwork in every style. Our portfolio displays this integration. In this technical, computer-generated world we live in, original artwork combined with smart design will set you apart. Think of any other company utilizing artwork. Are they successful? You will be too.
 
Watercolor Art:
This classical technique provides a perfect touch to most books and brochures and real estate projects. We have won multiple awards with our watercolor artwork as it appeared on tee shirts, labels and posters. See our watercolor packages.
 
Oil Painting:
Another old world technique. All of the paintings are scanned or photographed in-studio while they are still wet. This maintains their vibrancy and expedites the process. The finished product is usually run through the computer to take out glare, dust, etc. and applied to any criteria. The completed project is usually back from press before the paint is dry.
 
Wood Cut Art:
Actually, it has been modified from the original wood cut parameters. For one, the printing process is too time consuming. So, we etch on a variety of materials, including glass and acetate, and take them directly to the scanner. This style has a whimsical feel, but can also tell a story of elegance, all based on the design intent and intricacy.
 
Pencil Art:
From sketching to fine point, precision drawing, the pencil is still one of our favorite tools. With a built in editing feature, some of the best designs start out as pencil sketches. Others end as blended and highly refined fine artworks.
 
Computer Illustration:
The computer is still a great tool for art. We use no Photoshop filters or clip art, but create unique artwork within the computer that has never been attempted. We also complement computer design with any of our other styles to create one-of-a-kind computer integrated designs.
 
Postcards:
A card for sending a message by mail without an envelope, typically having a photograph or other illustration on one side.
 
Posters:
Large printed advertising sometimes used for decoration.

Hang Cards:
Printed rack cards that have a hole at the top to place on door handles at businesses and homes. 

Vehicle Wrap:
Heavy duty outdoor vinyl that is printed and adhered to any vehicle. Printed area can be designed to complement the vehicle shape and message. 
Logo:
A specific symbol or design adopted by an organization to identify its products, services and staff for consumer awareness.
 
Branding:
The promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.
 
Website:
A digital informational brochure located on a connection to the Internet that maintains one or more pages on the(space)World Wide Web.
 
Host:
A computer that mediates multiple access to databases mounted on it or provides other services to a computer network, 24 hours a day.
 
Domain Name:
A distinct subset of the Internet with addresses sharing a common suffix or under the control of a particular organization or individual.
 
Advertising:
The activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products and services.
 
Marketing:
The action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.
 
Public Relations:
The professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or organization or a famous person.
 
Social Networking:
The use of dedicated websites and applications to communicate informally with other users, or to find people with similar interests to oneself.
 
Social Marketing:
The professional use of dedicated websites and applications to communicate a favorable public perception for/by a company or organization.
 
Budgeting:
An estimate of income from advertising and expenditure for agency services for a set period of time.
 
Tag Line:
A catchphrase or slogan, as used in advertising, or the punchline of a joke.
 
Embroidery:
Complex stitching on textile garments of logotype or other design.
 
Screen Printing:
Forced ink onto (a surface) through a prepared screen of fine material so as to create a picture or pattern.
 
Printing:
Production of books, newspapers, magazines, etc. in large quantities, by a mechanical process involving the transfer of text, images, or designs to paper.
 
Stationery:
Printed writing paper, letterhead with matching envelopes.
 
Stickers:
Adhesive label or notice, generally printed or illustrated.
 
Video Production:
The system of recording, reproducing, or broadcasting moving visual images on or from "videotape" (replaced with digital media).
 
Brochures:
A small book or magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service.
 
Flyers/Fliers:
A small handbill advertising an event or product.
 
Catalogs:
A publication containing details and often photographs of items for sale, esp. one produced by a mail order company.
 
Menus:
Printed list of dishes available in a restaurant.
 
Score Cards:
Printed postcard-like flyer used to advertise an event and keep tally of strokes or goals.
 
Presentations:
Flash, Keynote or Powerpoint series of slides used as visual aid in a speech or as a silent communication at an event projected on a wall or screen.
 
Annual Reports:
Publicly traded companies require a fiscal account of activity for the shareholders. The design is usually elaborated to show success.
 
Magazine Design:
Formatting and elaboration of a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or area of interest.
 
Identity:
A specific symbol or design adopted by an organization to identify its products, services and staff for consumer awareness.
 
Pixel
A minute area of illumination on a display screen, one of many from which an image is composed.
 
Megapixels
One million pixels, used as a measure of the resolution in digital cameras.
 
DPI
Abbreviation: Manufacturing, "Dots per inch", a measure of the resolution of printers, scanners, etc.
 
LPI
Abbreviation: Printing, "Lines per inch", a measure of the amount lines of dots in a halftone.
 
PPI
Abbreviation: Computing, "Pixels per inch", a measure of the resolution of display screens, scanners, and printers.
 
Bit, Byte, Kilobyte, MB, GB, TB, PB, EB, ZeB, ZoB, BB...
Abbreviations: Units of information based on the bit. • 8 Bits = 1 Byte • 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte • 1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte • 1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte • 1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte • 1024 Terabytes = 1 Petabyte • 1024 Petabytes = 1 Exabyte - In 2000, 3 exabytes of information was created world wide. • 1024 Exabytes = 1 Zettabyte • 1024 Zettabyte = 1 Zottabyte • 1024 Zottabyte = 1 Brontobyte - that is a 1 followed by 27 zeroes.
 
CTRL
CONTROL key on a computer keyboard, sometimes abbreviated as CTRL.
 
CMD
COMMAND or APPLE key on a computer keyboard, sometimes abbreviated as CMD.
Share by: