Know Your Media Services Vocabulary: Full Glossary

Have a retouching or video project but don't know where to start? First thing is to find a trusted media partner. The right partner will work with you to understand your needs, regardless of your experience with these types of projects. However, it always helpful to have the language to describe exactly what you are looking for.

Here are some common terms used in regards to multimedia services:

| A | B | C | D | F | G | H | M | N | O | P | R | S | V | W | Z |

Additional Post Effects 

Any effects applied after the render is composited i.e. lens flares, camera distortion

Ambient Occlusion   

A pass that pertains to contact shadows i.e. darkening at the seams where edges meet

Animation 

The process of creating movement for the images.

Architectural Visualization

Processed based on architectural instruction and pre-determined building plans. This process combines CGI rendering with CAD plans/architecture plans. 

BE Lens

Programable digital signage for multiple environments

CGI

(Computer-Generated Imagery) this process uses computer graphics to create something that does not exist in the "real world"  

Color Correction/Color Grading 

Adjusting hues & tones during post production period for images and between video clips

Contract Proofing 

Crypto matte 

A pass that separates out elements into flat color for easy masking

Depth 

Refers to adjusting the volume of elements during the render process

Diffuse 

The base color/texture to which all lighting and shading is applied on top of

Fresnel 

A pass that creates a falloff in relation to angle of incidence of the camera

Global Illumination 

Indirect lighting/bounce light

Holowall 

Motion video and imagery mapped on to transparent structures

Match Move

Tracking a live action plate to generate a 3d camera with the same movement so CG assets can be married seamlessly

Matte ID

Isolates objects for compositing

Mechanical Production

Logical arrangement of components of an advertisement to strictly follow specification of a publication, magazine, outdoor or indoor billboard or screen space

Normals 

A 2D pass to simulate 3D space in post production 

OOH

(Out of home) refers to large format printing preparation a.k.a. billboard printing.

Pipeline

• Step 1- Modeling/Wireframe Creation 1a- Rigging for animation (situational and on a per project basis)
• 1b – Animation (situational and on a per project basis)
• Step 2-Creating/Applying Lighting, Surface details, Material Attributes, and Textures
• Step 3: Rendering – Broken out into multiple passes for post production control

Real Time Asset

An asset that is displayed in a real time engine akin to a video game, does not reflect the properties of a final rendered image, but a very good approximation that can be viewed in 360

Reflectivity 

Reflection and shadows during the rendering process 

Rendering & Compositing 

Images are written out of the render engine and broken into multiple phases for post production control

Retouching & Compositing 

Altering and changing photographed subject in order to achieve the best possible outcome for final presentation; may include combining multiple shots, correcting color, skin tones and removing defects, scratches etc.

Rigging for Animation 

(Situational and on a per project basis) creating control over a digital model, so the image can be moved and repositioned 

Scene Change 

Choosing CGI when you'd like to manipulate an environment

Simulation 

The creation of a digital asset based on the application of simulated effects, i.e., gravity, wind, external forces, interactions, collisions, shattering. Can include and is not limited to liquids, chocolates, broking objects, clouds, etc.

Specular 

Reflective elements during the rendering process 

VFX

(Visual Effects) the process where images that do not exist are created, using CGI, for a video; VFX can include the incorporation of live-action videography

Wide Frame

Refers to a complete model inside a 3D space

ZBrush 

Digital sculpting tool, used for 2D & 3D modeling