In the world of video production, understanding technical terms and specific jargon is crucial for efficient communication and successful project execution. This audiovisual glossary, organized in alphabetical order, presents 56 essential terms that you will find in the video production industry.
THE
- Animation: Technique of creating moving images from a sequence of drawings, models or miniature objects.
- Aspect Ratio: Ratio between the width and height of an image or video. Ex: 16:9, 4:3.
- Audience: Target audience or group of people who watch a video or program.
B
- B-Roll: Secondary footage used to complement the main video, add context, or cover edits.
- Backlight: Light positioned behind the subject to create an outline and separate it from the background.
- White Balance: Adjusting colors in a camera so that whites appear truly white in different lighting conditions.
W
- Slow Motion: A technique of playing video at reduced speed to emphasize details or create a dramatic effect.
- Chroma Key: Visual effect technique where a specific color (usually green or blue) is replaced by another image or video.
- Close-up: Framing that shows a subject or object in detail, filling most of the screen.
D
- Dissolves: Gradual transition from one image to another, creating a smooth effect.
- DP (Director of Photography): Professional responsible for lighting, framing and composition of scenes.
- Dolly: Camera movement where the camera is mounted on a cart that moves on tracks.
AND
- Non-Linear Editing: Digital video editing process that allows random access to any frame in the source material.
- Framing: Visual composition of a scene within the limits of the camera frame.
- Image Stabilization: Technique to reduce shaking in footage, resulting in smoother videos.
F
-
- Fade In/Out: Transition where the image or sound gradually appears or disappears.
- Foley: Creating custom sound effects in a recording studio to complement the video audio.
- FPS (Frames Per Second): Number of individual frames displayed per second in a video.
G
- Gaffer: Head of lighting technicians on a video production.
- Studio Recording: Filming carried out in a controlled environment with adequate lighting and sound.
- Green Screen: Green screen used as a background for the Chroma Key technique.
H
- HD (High Definition): Video with a resolution higher than standard definition, usually 720p or 1080p.
- Headroom: Space between the top of the subject's head and the top of the frame.
- Hue: Aspect of color that determines whether it is red, blue, green, etc.
I
- ISO: A measure of the camera's sensitivity to light. Higher ISO values allow recording in low-light conditions, but may increase noise.
- Three Point Lighting: Lighting technique that uses three light sources (main, fill and background) to illuminate the subject in a balanced way.
- Moving Image: Any image that creates the illusion of movement, including videos, animations, and GIFs.
J
- Jump Cut: Abrupt cut between two scenes that seem to discontinue the normal action.
- Jib: Long camera arm used to capture smooth, wide-motion images.
- JPEG: Lossy image compression format often used for photos and web graphics.
K
- Key Light: Main light source that illuminates the subject in a scene.
- Kicker: Light used to add brightness or highlight the subject's hair and shoulders.
- Kino Flo: Brand of fluorescent lights popular in video productions.
L
- Lighting Plan: Detailed plan of how lighting will be set up on a shoot.
- Log Line: Concise summary of the central concept of a video or film.
- LUT (Look-Up Table): File used to adjust the colors and exposure of an image or video.
M
- Master Shot: Wide shot that captures all the action of the scene in a single take.
- Match Cut: Transition between two scenes with similar visual compositions.
- Assembly: Editing technique that joins different scenes together to create a coherent narrative.
N
- Narrative: Structure and sequence of events told in a video or film.
- Audio Level: Volume of sound captured or played back in a video production.
- Noise: Unwanted interference or noise in an image or audio recording.
THE
- Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Framing where the camera films over the shoulder of a subject, focusing on another subject or object.
- Overlay: Visual or graphic element placed over the video image.
- Other Takes: Alternative recordings of the same scene or action.
P
- Panning: Horizontal movement of the camera on a fixed axis.
- Production Plan: Detailed document describing all aspects of video production.
- Post-Production: Video editing and finalization phase after filming.
Q
- Frame by Frame: Animation technique where each frame is drawn or manipulated individually.
- QuickTime: Video file format developed by Apple.
- Queue: List of clips or tasks to be processed in video editing.
R
- Raccord: Visual and logical continuity between scenes in a video or film.
- Reference: Video or material used as inspiration or guide for production.
- Review Rounds: Phases in which the video is reviewed and feedback is implemented before the final version.
S
- Script: A written document that describes the dialogue, action, and scene directions for a video production.
- Storyboard: Sequence of drawings that illustrate the script and the framing planned for filming.
- SFX (Sound Effects): Sound effects used to enrich a video's soundtrack.
T
- Take: A single continuous recording of a scene or action.
- Timecode: Timekeeping system used to synchronize audio and video during editing.
- Tilt: Vertical movement of the camera on a fixed axis.
U
- UHD (Ultra High Definition): Video with a resolution higher than HD, usually 4K or 8K.
- Upcut: Cutting from a scene before the end of the dialogue or action.
- Upload: Transferring video files to the internet or other platform.
V
- VFX (Visual Effects): Visual effects created digitally to add or enhance elements in a shot.
- Voice-Over: Narration or recorded speech that is added over video footage.
- Testimonial Video: Video where customers or users share their experiences and opinions about a product or service.
W
- White Balance: See White Balance.
- Wide Shot: Wide framing that captures a large scene or multiple subjects.
- Workflow: Sequence of steps or processes in a video production.
X
- XML: File format used to exchange project information between different video editing software.
- XLR: Type of audio connector used in professional sound equipment.
- XR (Extended Reality): Umbrella term for technologies such as virtual (VR), augmented (AR) and mixed (MR) reality.
Y
- YUV: Color model used in video that separates luminance (Y) information from color (UV) information.
- YouTube: Video sharing platform where users can upload, watch and comment on videos.
- Y-Cable: Cable that splits a signal into two outputs.
Z
- Zoom: Adjust the camera lens to zoom in or out on the subject.
- Zebra Pattern: A striped pattern on the camera screen that indicates overexposed areas in the image.
- Zero Cut: Cut without transition between two video clips.
Understanding these terms and jargon is essential for any audiovisual professional or enthusiast. This glossary serves as a valuable resource to help you navigate the world of video production.
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