Archives: Glossary

A hardwire device consisting of a flat, rectangular pad which allows you to input images into your computer by drawing on it with a pen-like instrument called a “stylus” as though you were working on paper. Also...

A pre-developed page layout in electronic or paper media used to make new pages with a similar design, pattern or style. A template can exist for a one-page item, such as a poster or dust jacket, or for a multi-page publication,...

A modelling, rendering and animation program developed and distributed by Discreet. It is one of the leading 3D software packages and is primarily used in visual effects and video game...

A miniature rough layout of a design or publication, showing a possible treatment of headlines and body, or the order of chapters, sections, etc. When a series of thumbnails are done for each page of a publication, it is...

Also called letter spacing or inter-letter spacing. The uniform spacing between a group of characters or an entire line of type. Tracking is normally used to compensate for problems caused by small or large type, but is also...

A standard-sized or large-sized paperback book (typically 6″ x 9″, give or take an inch). If it is a softcover edition of a previous hardcover edition, and, if published by the same publishing house as the hardcover,...

An all-caps display face commonly used in movie and book titling. Because of its overuse in movie titles and movie posters, it is sometimes referred to as the “movie font” although its use far predates movies. The...

The third color is used (along with black, white or gray) as an accent. Triad. A triadic color scheme uses colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. Triadic color harmonies tend to have one really strong...

The final size of a printed item, after it has been trimmed. The trim size of a piece is indicated by the crop marks and should also be included in the specification sheet for the...

Also called font family. The complete set of characters of a typeface design in all its sizes and styles. A typical font family contains four individual fonts: roman (regular), italic, bold and bold italic. Large families may...

The term describing a type design of any size, including weight variations on that design such as light and bold, but excluding all other related designs such as italic and condensed. As distinct from a type family, which...