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Thong photos
Summary: Thong photos may be deceiving. Just like the popular rubber-soled footware of the 60's once were called thongs, in today's jargon thongs are now flip-flops. Be an informed consumer when speaking about digital imaging by using the right words. Check out the glossary of digital terms in the following article.
A
Aperture - A term that relates to how much light enters the camera
through the shutter. Measured in f-stops, the smaller the f-stop
number, the more light that is admitted.
Autofocus - A lens system that automatically focuses before
the exposure is made. A delay of a second or so is required before the
shutter opens, enabling the camera to gauge the distance to the
subject and focus the lens.  | | Once called thongs, this fashionable footwear item is now a flip-flop. |
Automatic flash - A flash system that automatically
determines whether an image requires a flash and provides the
correct amount of light; a typical feature on most digital
cameras.
Automatic white balance - technology that automatically
adjusts white balance (the color of light) to an optimal level.
B
Backlighting - A photographic environment in which the main source of light is behind the subject.
Bracketing - A trick used by photographers to ensure proper
exposure without a meter, or to ensure a more precise exposure when a
meter is used. The photographer takes a series of images, one at
the estimated or metered exposure, one slightly over, and one
slightly under.
C
CCD - Charge-coupled device; the most common form of
photosensitive cells used to convert incoming light into electrical
signals in digital cameras.
CD writer - A drive that allows you to burn photos, data, and music onto compact discs.
CMYK - Cyan, magenta, yellow, black; often called process
colors; a color model used to optimize images for printing in
which all colors are described as a mixture of these four colors.
Color intensity - A feature found on most inkjet printers
that controls the brightness of an image by varying the amount of
ink applied to the page; lighter images use less ink and darker
images use more.
CompactFlash memory - Based on Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association (PCMCIA) PC card specifications,
CompactFlash measures 43 x 36 mm and is available with storage
capacities up to 1GB.
Compression -A generic term to describe one of the numerous
processes whereby data or details are removed from an image to
make the overall image size smaller.
Continuous shutter - A feature found on more expensive
digital cameras that enables you to take several images in quick
succession; the images are saved to the memory card after the
multiple exposures have been taken.
Contrast enhancement - Automatically brightens images that appear
dark or hazy, and applies appropriate tone correction to deliver
optimal quality and clarity.
Cropping - An image-editing technique whereby a portion of
a photograph is removed, usually from the outside of the image,
to eliminate unwanted details.
D
Depth of field - The area in front of and behind the main subject
of a photograph that remains in focus; can be affected by
aperture, distance to the subject, and focal length.
Depth-of-field scale - A device used by photographers to
estimate the distance range where objects are in sharp focus.
Digital camera - A camera that saves images as digital
files on some type of digital media rather than capturing images
on film.
Digital flash - Applies image enhancement to improve detail in shadow areas or areas that are too light and overexposed.
Digital zoom - A feature that enlarges the subject within an
image to fill more of the frame; using a digital zoom reduces the
resolution of an image.
Direct photo printing - A feature of some photo printers that
allows users to transfer a memory card from a camera directly to
a printer, enabling the images on that card to be printed without
a PC.
Downloading - The process of transferring images from a digital
camera to a computer (using any type of connection); once an
image has been downloaded it is saved to the computer's hard
drive for later use.
Dpi - Dots per inch; standard of measurement for the resolution of images. The higher the DPI, the higher the resolution.
DVD writer - A computer drive that allows you to make your own
DVD movies, transfer home videotapes to DVD, and safely store
music, photos, data, and more.
Exposure - Admitting light into the body of a camera for a specific
amount of time. With a digital camera, the light strikes an array
of photosensitive receptors, which convert varying levels of
light into electrical current.
F
Filter - A mathematical formula applied to a digital image.
Most image editors offer filters that can make dramatic changes
in the appearance of a photograph.
FireWire (IEEE 1394) - Developed by Apple Computer, an IEEE
1394 standard-based interface that allows easy connection of one
type of electronics device to another. It shares most of the
features of USB, although it transfers data much faster.
Fish-eye lens - An extremely wide-angle lens that can take in a huge panoramic view but distorts the edges of the image.
Fixed focus - A lens system that doesn't require focusing. Most
point-and-shoot automatic cameras have a fixed-focus lens.
Focal length - The distance between the surface of the camera
lens and the sensor array at the back of the camera. The focal
length of the camera determines how large the subject appears.
Formatting - Completely erasing and resetting a camera's memory
card. This is usually done as a quick way to erase a full card
that you want to reuse or to attempt to fix a card that can't be
recognized by the digital camera.
Focusing - Adjusting a camera's lens system to bring the subject into sharp view.
Focus lock - Also called an infinity lock, this camera feature
sets a camera to focus to a certain distance (ignoring closer
objects, if present).
G
GIF - Graphics Interchange Format; a compressed image format. GIF
was the first commonly used image format on the Web, but it has been
largely replaced by JPEG.
Gigabyte (GB) - A unit of data equal to 1,024 megabytes.
H
Hard drive - A computer's permanent storage device: you can both read data from and write data to a hard drive.
J
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group; the most common image compression format used by digital cameras.
L
Landscape photo composition - An orientation where the width is greater than the height.
LCD - A liquid crystal display is one of the most prevalent
technologies used on digital cameras to view and preview digital
photos.
Lithium-ion batteries - A popular, long-lasting,
rechargeable battery technology often used in digital cameras;
lithium is the lightest metal and features the highest
electromechanical potential.
M
Macro lens - A lens especially made for extreme close-up
photography; lets you focus on a subject a few inches or less
from the lens surface.
Megapixel - The number of pixels per inch that a digital
camera can produce in an image; one megapixel is 1,000 pixels per
inch. The higher the megapixel value, the higher the image resolution.
Memory card - The system used to store images by most digital
cameras. Unlike a computer memory card, this card retains data
even without electricity. Four main types of memory cards are in
use today: CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick.
Memory card reader - An external unit that accepts a memory
card and connects directly to a computer, enabling you to
download images from the card much more quickly than downloading
from the camera.
Metering - The process of measuring the available light
reflected from the subject to calculate the proper exposure time
or aperture.
N
NiCad batteries - Nickel cadmium batteries are losing favor
as a power source for personal electronics because of the
frequent need for recharging.
NiMH batteries – Rechargeable Nickel metal hydride
batteries can store up to 50 percent more power than NiCad
batteries, making them ideal for digital cameras.
Noise filter - An HP Real Life technology that reduces image
“noise” (an unwanted bumpy or granular look) with minimal loss of
detail.
Optical zoom - A feature that alters a camera's focal length, filling more of the frame with the subject.
P
Parallax - A focusing error introduced in a typical optical rangefinder
at extremely close range; caused by the discrepancy between the optical
viewfinder and the camera lens.
PCMCIA cards - Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association cards are used to add functionality, such as an external
hard drive or wireless capability, to desktop or notebook computers.
PDF - Portable document format; allows users to send formatted documents to be easily viewed and printed.
Photo composition - The art of arranging lighting and the
elements in a scene (as well as control of focus and exposure) to
produce a great photograph.
Photo paper - A heavy paper with a glossy finish
specifically made for printing high-resolution color photographs
with an inkjet printer.
Photo printing, direct - A feature of some photo printers that
allows users to transfer a memory card from a camera directly to
a printer, enabling the images on that card to be printed without
a PC.
Pixel - A single dot within a digital photograph. The typical photograph is made up of thousands of pixels.
Plug-in - A third-party software module that you can buy and
install into many image editors. A plug-in provides a new filter
or effect that you can apply to your images.
Portrait photo composition - An orientation where the height is greater than the width.
R
RAM - Random access memory; a computer's RAM holds data needed to run programs.
Resizing - Changing the dimensions of an image (measured in pixels) to make it larger or smaller.
Red-eye removal - Corrects the appearance of "red eye" and is applied on a case-by-case (picture-by-picture) basis.
Resolution - In terms of digital cameras, resolution is usually
quoted as the dimension of an image measured in pixels. The
figure is expressed as the number of pixels measured in rows (left to
right) and columns (up and down).
RGB color space - Red, green, blue; the additive color model used in digital images and displayed on a monitor.
Rotation - Turning an image. For example, you might use an image
editor to rotate an image to change its orientation from portrait
to landscape.
Rule of asymmetry - A photo-composition rule that calls for
objects of different shapes to be included in the frame, often
with a sharp contrast between light and dark.
Rule of thirds - A photo-composition rule that divides the frame
into nine equal areas. Subjects could be aligned along one of the
lines or appear at an intersection.
S
SDRAM - Synchronous dynamic random access memory; used in digital
cameras and other computing devices. SDRAM is a relatively new type of
memory that runs at higher clock speeds than traditional memory.
Secure Digital memory - Memory card about the size of a postage
stamp that weighs approximately two grams; available with storage
capacities as high as 128MB. Secure Digital memory is gaining favor in
all types of personal electronics devices.
See-thru Scanjet scanner - A breakthrough in scanner
design, the extra-thin see-thru scanners are versatile, portable,
and transparent.
Serial port - A port that enables you to connect external devices
such as digital cameras and modems to your computer. A serial
connection is a slow method of downloading images from a camera to a
computer.
Sharpness - Detail areas are sharper and crisper for realistic, photo-quality output.
Shutter - The device at the front of the camera that opens when
you press the shutter release button. It admits a specific amount
of light into the body of the camera for a specified amount of
time.
Shutter speed - Shutter speed is how long the shutter stays
open; it controls the amount of time light is allowed to reach
the film. Short shutter speeds are good for action and sunny-day
photos. Slow shutter speed is good for low-light situations.
SmartMedia memory - A memory card developed by Toshiba that
uses flash memory to store data. It measures 45 x 37 mm and is
less than 1 mm thick. Available in capacities to 128MB,
SmartMedia is portable and can easily be transferred between
electronics devices.
Smoothing - Gives digital images a smoother, more uniform appearance for realistic, true-to-life photo quality.
T
Telephoto - A lens with a longer focal length and a smaller field
of view than a standard primary camera lens. A telephoto is
useful for enlarging distant subjects.
Temperature - In photography, the specific hue of color (as measured in degrees Kelvin).
Thumbnail - A much smaller version of a digital photograph
(usually about the size of a postage stamp). The software
provided with a digital camera typically uses thumbnails to
display the images stored on a memory card.
TIFF - Tagged Image File Format; an image format popular
among Apple Macintosh owners, graphic artists, and the publishing
industry.
Tripod - A portable, three-legged stand that photographers use to provide a steady base for a camera.
TWAIN - Technology Without An Interesting Name; the standard
interface between software applications and image-capturing devices
such as scanners.
U
USB - Universal Serial Bus; a popular interface for connecting
all sorts of external devices, including digital cameras, to most
PC and Apple Macintosh computers. A USB device can be plugged in
and used without restarting a computer.
V
Vignetting - An HP Real Life technology that minimizes the
appearance of “vignetting” (darkening of an image in the
corners), producing a bright and clear image right up to the
corners.
W
White balance - Digital cameras have the ability to adjust the
color based on the lighting situation where they are used. This
is known as white balance. The cameras use white as a reference
and adjust the color balance to give as true as possible a white,
correcting all the other colors by doing this. HP color
scientists have developed a family of algorithms to automatically
adjust white balance under a wide range of conditions and with
remarkable accuracy.
White Balance, Automatic - An HP Real Life technology that
automatically adjusts white balance (the color of light) to an
optimal level.
Wide-angle lens - A lens with a shorter focal length and a larger
field of view than a standard primary camera lens. Wide-angle lenses
are great for shooting scenic photographs.
Z
Zoom, digital - A feature that enlarges the subject within
an image to fill more of the frame; using a digital zoom reduces
the resolution of an image.
Zoom, optical - A feature that alters a camera's focal length, filling more of the frame with the subject.
Zoom lens - A lens with an adjustable focal length that lets you see a scene from a narrow to a wide field of view.
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
• more tips & tricks
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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