For a more extensive list of words, please visit the Olympus America Glossary
Bit: The smallest amount of digital information. Made of a 1 or 0 representing an on or off state.
Byte: Digital or computer measurement of storage memory,
file size or information. Made of 8 bits of information.
CCD (Charged Coupled Device): A light-sensitive electronic
chip used for image gathering. The CCD is a monochrome device
requiring a color filter to produce a color image. CCDs are
analog sensors
with digitizing taking place when the electrons, as a group,
are passed through the A to D converter (See A/D).
Cropping: (Crop) The digital or manual process of cutting
away undesired portions of a captured image.
Digital: The measurement and recording of continuously varying values of elements in the physical
world, such as sound, light, temperature, etc., which correspond proportionally to values such as electronic voltage. These
values are then converted into binary (1 and 0 or on and off) bits of information.
Dot: The unit printers use to describe the ink or toner placed for printing. A dot can correspond to
a single pixel used to show an image or a group of pixels to produce larger printer dots to represent greys.
Download: The transfer of data from one computer (or device) to another computer. In digital photography,
the process involves transferring recorded pictures from the memory card to the computer.
DPI (Dots-Per-Inch): A printing term to describe the
number of dots per inch used to create an image. The smaller
the size of the dots and the greater their number, the higher
the geometric resolution
of the printer. Note: Digital cameras do not use dpi, they instead
use the term pixels-per-inch (ppi) that denotes the captured
image resolution.
Dye: (Sublimation Printing) The printing system that
transfers colors from RGB, CMY, or CMYK computer files onto
ribbons containing dyes that are heated and fused onto paper.
Dye-sublimation printers are
continuous- tone printers capable
of producing photographic quality images.
Export: The act of sending a file out through a computer, program, camera or device to another
computer, program, camera or device.
Flash Memory: A type of memory chip that has fast access and can be erased. Images remain
safe even when the camera battery power runs out.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): Graphic Interface
designed by CompuServe for using images on the Web. This is
a 256-color or 8-bit image.
Inkjet printing: A popular printing system that sprays fine droplets of CMYK ink through very small
nozzles to form dots on papers. Photo Inkjet Printers use six or more colors of ink to create high-quality output.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): The de facto
standard file type for image compression in digital imaging
devices. JPEG uses areas of 8 X 8 pixels and compresses
the information based on
a set ratio.
Laser Printer: A low to medium/high output device similar to a photocopier. Laser printers can
reproduce line images, text, or photographic halftones on plain paper.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): A full-color display
found on digital cameras that allows for the previewing and
viewing of pictures. Also used to display
mode menus.
Mega Pixel (or megapixel): The imaging term for an image sensor of one million pixels or more.
The higher geometric pixel resolution sensors produce higher quality digital photographic images.
MMC Memory Card (Multi-Media Card): A type of solid-state
memory card about the size of a postage stamp used in digital
cameras and other electronic devices.
PDF (Portable Document Format): Adobe® Systems’ cross-platform
file type. Images and text may be sent to many different computers
and read with the Acrobat reader.
Pixel: The pixel is the smallest part of a digital image. Pixel comes from the term picture element.
Also used in measuring image size. Pixels are dimensional having a horizontal and vertical size
measured in microns. Their depth is measured in bits. (see bit-depth).
Ram (Random Access Memory): The volatile memory used
to temporarily store information for processing. In a digital camera, RAM
can be referred to as ‘on-board’ memory where images are
processed before being written to the memory card.
Removable Memory: Removable picture storage cards used in digital cameras. These solid-state
memory cards include Smart Media, Compact Flash, xD, Memory Stick, and SD/MMC.
Resolution: The sharpness, tonal range and color accuracy
of an image. The total pixel count determines the geometric
resolution and tonal dynamic range of the image. The optical
resolution, or lens, determines the clarity, focus and contrast of the
picture provided to the image. The dynamic range (tonal shadow and
highlight detail), color fidelity and overall sharpness of the image are
its resolution.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue): The color model of computer
monitors and digital cameras. These primary colors are used to create all
the colors seen on the monitor and saved in files. The color green is additionally
used for contrast control.
SD Memory Card (Secure Digital): A type of solid-state memory card about the
size of a postage stamp used in digital cameras and other electronic devices.
Smart Media (SSFDC): Solid State Floppy Disk Card. Solid-state removable memory card used in
digital cameras to store captured images.
USB (Universal Serial Bus): A standardized input/output bus found on most digital cameras.
Capable of fast data transfer rates and “plug and play” operation.
Viewfinder: A small viewing window on a digital camera used to help the photographer frame the
photograph. There are two main types of viewfinders:
Optical: A clear glass frame that closely approximates the view of the camera lens.
Electronic (EVF): A small version of a camera’s larger LCD viewing window. Used primarily
in compact cameras with long zoom lenses.
xD Picture card: A type of solid-state memory card about the size of a small postage stamp
used in digital cameras.
Zoom: The magnification of one part of an image allowing the photographer to get closer to the subject.
Optical Zoom: Uses the lens to magnify the image with no effect on image quality.
Digital Zoom: Uses camera software to digitally crop and enlarge the image to the original full size.
Reduces resolution and image quality.
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