When you browse our pages, this Jargon Buster Box can immediately show an explanation of any technical terms you may be unfamiliar with. Just click the red text links found on any page shown above to see the explanation!

Accelerated Graphics Port. Dedicated slot for graphics cards.

The trade-name of a software package by the "Adobe" company that specializes in a combination of multi-page file storage, indexing, viewing, page retrieval, printing and word searching all within one package. (See also Multi-Page File, Acrobat Reader, PDF)

A card, nominally 187mm (7.4") x 83mm (3.3"), containing a small aperture that holds a single 35 mm negative. Information, such as the drawing number may be written on the card. Cards from American owned companies may also be punched with holes called "Hollerith Code". This code may contain the drawing number, drawing size etc. (See also Microfilm, Jackets, Combi-Jackets, Fiche, Microfiche, Drawing Negatives) For more information on Aperture Cards, click here.

A computer software package comprising of programs used to undertake a range of related tasks. (See also Program, Software)

Width to height screen ratio, usually in the form of 4:3 for a standard TV or 16:9 for wide screen.

American National Standards Institute. A standardised character set extension to the ASCII.

Smooths the jagged effect of a bitmap image.

Application Programming Interface. Any coding standard that allows hardware to interact with software without the need for any special coding.

A floor standing graphic display usually comprising a single flat printed graphic on paper of film supported by a simple frame system. May be easily erected and dismantled for carrying. (See also Pop-Ups and Fold-a-Ways).

The numbers of "bits" used to define the numbers of shades of colours (or just black or white or greys for greyscale) represented by one pixel. Consequently, defining the bit depth also defines the amount of data "read" whilst scanning. (See also Bitmap, Byte, Binary System, Scanning, Bit, Greyscale, Lineart, Primary Colours, RGB, True Colour). For further information on Bit Depth, click here.

Adobe parlance. The provision of a screen-based index (similar to a book index) that when "clicked" on retrieves, and displays, selected page images stored within the file. (See also PDF, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader)

Computer Aided Drawing or Computer Aided Design.

Compact Disc - Read Only Memory. Similar to the common music CD but records digital data instead of music. Is known as a "worm" device. (See also WORM) Click here for further information on CD-ROM storage. Click here for advantages offered by digital storage.

Spreadsheets contain boxes known as cells. These variously contain values, formulas or text

Computer (such as the one you jmmay be viewing this page with) connected to a network. This computer is a client when requesting information from a source (for example, a server).

An image or set of images that can easily be used or altered in DTP or graphics programs.

(AKA rubber stamp) A common tool used for image retouching and correction. This tool is used to erase specific details from an image and replace it with another.

See "True Colour"

These are very similar to Jackets except that they holds different sizes of negatives. (See also Microfilm, Fiche, Microfiche, Aperture Cards, Jackets).

See File Compression

Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology.

A legal document. We scan all types of deeds including deeds that cannot be taken apart and those with wax seals, those on velum etc.

The background screen on the Windows platform.

Compression algorithm used by JPEGs. Also commonly used with video compression.

We scan all types of documents, with text, colour images, drawings, etc. in any size and quantity.

Name of server or organisation that consists of an internet address.

The process of improving a poor original drawing. The image is taken from paper or film and presented as a clearer digital image.

Engineering drawings, plans, maps, artists drawings, any size - colour or black and white, we scan them all!

Desktop Publishing. Name given to the process of print production (eg books, leaflets, etc.)

The native file type used by AutoCAD for saving DraWinG files. For example "myfile.dwg".

Light sensitive coating on film, plates or surfaces.

A shared media 10 Mbits/sec LAN employing 10 Base-T twisted pair cabling. Defined by IEEE 802.3 in which all devices on the network share the total bandwidth.

A Fiche is a large black and white negative nominally 148 mm x 104 mm that usually contains a large number of small images of pages from documents. (See also Microfilm, Jacket, Combi-Jacket, Aperture Card, Fiche and Microfiche). Click here for more information on Fiche and Microfiche.

A space in a document or a database where information of some type can be inserted.

The reduction in size of an image file. JPEG files use "lossy" compression and operate by removing minor colour variations. "Non-lossy" compression, such as LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch - the names of the designers) compress files without loss of data. (See also File Compression, File Transfer Media, G4 Compression, JPEG, Lineart, Tiff, Uncompressed). Click here for more information on File Compression.

The provision of a name for a file. When carried out by the scanning equipment automatically, it results in the serial format similar to 001.tif, 002.tif, 003.tif etc. When carried out manually, may be any name required within the limitations of the numbers of characters permitted by the operating system. Manual file naming is more costly than automatic file naming. Click here for information on File Types.

The physical means of transferring digital files from one computer to another. Usually floppy discs, ZIP discs, CD's, etc. (See also ZIP Disc)

The process of completing the final presentation of a printed graphic image. This usually involves mounting, laminating, encapsulating, framing etc.

Protects computers from unauthorised incoming and outgoing traffic.

File format for viewing and storage.

portable disc for storing upto 1.4MB (megabytes) of data. (Also see Zip and CD-ROM).

A large format graphic display using flat panels that fold along vertical hinges. Usually used for exhibition and display purposes. Unlike the Pop-Up, it does not normally have curved surfaces and hence is often a lower cost option. (See also Pop-Up and Banner Stand).

A visual icon within the graphic user interface (GUI) that illustrates an area where files can be held together.

Often a geometrical shape, this is an image obtained by the use of a repeted mathematical equation.

Frame

Point where data moves between networks.

Scanning several separate images at the same time with the same scanner settings.

Method of blurring utilised by Photoshop.

Graphics Interchange Format. File format, prominantly found on the internet. Only has 256 colours.

A type of scanning that caters for black, white and shades of grey. Usually having 256 shades of grey from black to white e.g. looks like a black and white photo. No other colours involved. Typically 8 bit but can be 12 bit or higher. (See also Bi-Level, Lineart and True Colour)

Continuous tones simulated by overlapping printed "dots". The dots may vary by in size and position to provide the effect required (See also Continuous Tone)

The device inside the computer that stores all the files.

The physical parts of a computer. Software is used to operate the hardware. (See also Software, Programs, Applications)

A programming language used in the production of websites. Also see XML.

Used in LANs to connect network nodes such as computers and hubs. The central connection point for computers in star topology networks.

A graphic symbol that represents a navigation option.

Similar to the Internet but is confined to an organisation. Can also be accessed whilst offline.

Internet Protocol. Basic means of data transferal over the internet. This is the lowest logical level of the internet.

These are cellophane holders of size nominally 148 mm x 104 mm into which strips if film black and white negatives are inserted. It appears similar to a Fiche (See also Microfilm, Fiche, Microfiche, Aperture Cards, Jackets, Combi Jackets). Click here for further information on Jackets.

Programming languaged used to create applets.

A printer that will fuse toner or powder onto paper.

Used to draw an outline around an area in an image-editting program.

Normally anything bigger than A3.

Essentially this is one image amoungst many. As layers are put on top of one another a composition is created.

Works in the same way as a mask but is applied to a single layer only.

Small colour screen. These are built into the majority of digital cameras.

Lithium-ion / Li-ion

A type of personal computer created by the Apple Corporation. Traditionally used in the graphics industry.

Commands or actions executed using a key, symbol or name.

A method of marking an image so that areas can be editted or not, or even saved at will to be used later on. Masks can also define whether part of an image is transparant or opaque.

35mm is the most common film size and each image measures nominally 35mm x 24mm on the roll of film. Medium format is for larger types of cameras made by the likes of Bronica, Mamiya, Hassleblad, Rollec, Pentax etc. The image sizes on these types of film are typically 60mm x 45mm, 60mm x 60mm, 60mm x 70mm and generally up to 60mm x 90mm. These images are generally three to four times larger in area compared to 35mm film and therefore, provide a better quality image. (See also Large Format - Film size)

Information used to describe digital images.

If aCCD chip contains over a million pixels this is the term applied to it.

See "Fiche". This is much the same thing but the images are smaller. (See also Microfilm, Jackets, Combi-Jackets and Aperture Cards).

Term used for running a component higher than that recommended by the manufacturer to increase performance.

Personal Computer.

Form of removable storage.

Portable Document Format. A proprietary file type used by Adobe "Acrobat". The reader for this file type is freely available from Adobe. However, the software to produce these files is available for purchase under licence from Adobe. (See also PDF, Adobe, Acrobat, Book Marking, Images and Hidden Text). Click here for further information on PDF.

Form of storing images. Created by Kodak.

Composition where several images are merged together.

Popular and powerful graphics software by "Adobe" that is widely adopted. "PhotoShop" is used both professionally and by amateurs for all types of graphical manipulation and enhancement.

Image format. Principally associated with the Mac operating system.

An extension to an application to add extra functionality to a program.

Portable Network Photograph. Format of lossy compression being developed that is expected to outperform JPEG.

A floor mounted, large format, graphic display that is supported by a special frame system usually using diagonal cross bracings that may be easily and rapidly dismantled and re-erected. May have straight or curved surfaces or with rounded ends. Used for exhibition and display purposes and can be quite large. Reduces to a small size to increase portability. (See also Shell Schemes, Banner Stands and Fold-a-Ways)

When you click on the red text links actually in the Jargon Buster Box, this will take you to a either deeper levelof explanation (where one is necessary) or to an associated explanation within the Jargon Buster.

Rate at which a monitor can redraw the image on it's screen.

Red, Green and Blue, the primary additive light colours (See also Primary Colours).

The process of taking a physical image, normally on paper or similar, and replicating the image in a digital form for storage on a computer. (See also Scanning (Batch), Scanning (Individual) Resolution, PPI, Pixels, Aperture Cards, Drawing Negatives, Scanning (Reasons for)). Click here for more information on the necessity of bureau scanning.

Scanning

(Batch)

Scanning

(Individual)

Scanning

(Reasons for)

Click here for a useful page that shows the majority of reasons why scanning is usually out. This will be of help if you are preparing a case for scanning.

High performance computer system that serve client computers.

A printed, large format, graphic display specifically designed to fit your chosen number of standard exhibition wall panels. These panels are erected by exhibition contractors and are used to define the area purchased by exhibitors for their display stands. The shell scheme provides low cost, full size, seamless graphic images to completely cover all standard wall panels. (See also Banner Stands, Pop-Ups and Fold-a-Ways)

Cheap programs that are often used with the belief that the author will be paid if the user finds the program of benefit.

Storage method for digital media.

A program that compared the words in a document to those within a dictionary.

Method of allowing files to be accessed over the net before they are complete.

Transmission Control Protocol. Protocol that manages connections between two systems reliably. Can resend if necessary.

Well you know what this is - it's letters on a white background! Usually taken to mean black letters on a white background. (See Bi-level, Lineart, Greyscale, Mono)

Standard form or layout that can be reused at will.

A group of icons used to execute functions or programs.

Visual Basic for Applications. Common scripting language.

A type of drawing paper, ofter a polyester, transparent material, capable of having the image of an original paper or film drawing copied onto it to provide a copy of the original drawing. The copied drawing is often modified slightly. This saves re-drawing the original to incorporate the small changes required. Not required when CAD drawing is used. Also see polyester film.

Live broadcast over the web, using streaming technology.

Write Once Read Many. A type of digital storage device that retains it's data and once written, the data cannot be changed. Once the data is written on it, an irreversible physical change takes place and hence, the data cannot be changed. (See also CD-ROM)

A utility that aids the user perform certain tasks.