Glossary of Terms
The Glossary of Terms is a curated collection of definitions from the worlds of film, games, art, and design. Whether you're a student, artist, creative director or technical developer, this glossary is made to streamline your workflow and sharpen your understanding. All terms are written with clarity in mind, so you can move from confusion to creation faster.
The glossary includes industry-specific language used in animation, storytelling, production, visual effects, interactive media, conceptual art, and design systems. It’s structured for creative professionals, by creative professionals.Browse through categories like visual language, camera techniques, character design, game mechanics, UI principles, rendering technology, and more.
What is the Glossary of Terms?
The Glossary is a living index of essential concepts across entertainment and creative industries. It helps define and demystify production terms, art direction language, cinematic devices, and technical terminology — all in one place. You can use this glossary to learn the language of the industry, write clearer documentation, improve production notes, or enhance your storytelling vocabulary.
Why use a Glossary?
Many terms in the entertainment industry are often used inconsistently or misunderstood. The Glossary gives you clean, consistent definitions across mediums — helping teams stay aligned, students learn faster, and artists speak the same language. It also supports better communication between departments, whether you're working in pre-production, post, or interactive pipelines.
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A concept developed by the Situationist International, referring to the study of how specific urban environments and spaces can affect the emotions and behavior of individuals within them.
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Art created for public spaces, often aimed at engaging the community or making social commentary, and can range from sculptures to murals, installations, and performances.
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A camera shot where the camera moves away from the subject to provide context for the scene.
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A movement formed in the early 20th century that advocated for a return to purity in visual representation, emphasizing clarity, simplicity, and the use of basic forms.
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A camera shot where the camera moves toward the subject to reveal details or create emphasis.
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Python is a high-level programming language used widely in VFX for scripting and automation. In VFX software like Houdini and Blender, Python is used to create tools, automate repetitive tasks, and control the 3D modeling and animation workflow.
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A non-player character (NPC) that assigns quests to the player, typically in role-playing games (RPGs) and adventure games.
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Quick keys / Shortcuts
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Quick keys or shortcuts are keyboard combinations that allow designers to perform actions faster, such as Ctrl+C for copy or Command+S for saving, improving workflow efficiency.
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Quick-Time Event (QTE)
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A gameplay feature where players must press specific buttons or perform certain actions within a time limit to proceed through an in-game event or cinematic.
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R&D (Research and Development)
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R&D in VFX refers to the department responsible for developing new tools and techniques to solve complex creative challenges. It involves innovation in software, workflows, and creative processes to push the boundaries of visual effects.
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Acronym for "random access memory," a type of fast storage used to temporarily store data that the computer or gaming console is actively using while processing a game.
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RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue and is the colour mode used for digital displays. These colours combine in various proportions to create all the colours visible on screens.
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RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, the primary colors used in digital imaging. By combining varying intensities of these three colors, any color in the visible spectrum can be created, and it is the standard color model used for screens and digital images.
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Acronym for "random number generator," a system used in games to introduce an element of randomness, such as for determining loot drops, enemy behavior, or random events.
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Short for "role-playing," the act of embodying and acting as a specific character within a game's narrative, often with defined traits or backstory.
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Acronym for "role-playing game," a genre of games where players assume the roles of characters, typically involving story-driven gameplay and character progression.
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An in-camera technique changing focus between foreground and background objects.
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A group of Italian architects and designers from the late 1960s to the 1970s who opposed traditional modernism, advocating for experimental, anti-establishment designs that embodied political resistance and social change.
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The act of quitting a game in frustration, often due to a perceived unfair disadvantage or a difficult challenge.
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A ragged edge refers to uneven line lengths in text, creating a jagged appearance along the margin. It can be smoothed out through tracking or kerning.
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A large-scale cooperative multiplayer activity in which a team of players works together to overcome tough in-game challenges, such as powerful enemies or complex puzzles.
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A bright, oblique light used in art and photography to highlight surface textures and details, enhancing the visual characteristics of an object's surface.
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A raster image, also called a bitmap, is made up of pixels, and can become blurry or pixelated when resized, unlike vector graphics which can be scaled without loss of quality.
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Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates the behavior of light in a 3D environment, producing highly realistic lighting effects such as reflections, refractions, and shadows by tracing the path of rays as they interact with objects.
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A rendering technique that simulates realistic lighting effects, such as reflections and shadows, by modeling how light interacts with objects in a 3D environment.
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A photographic technique pioneered by Man Ray, where objects are placed directly onto light-sensitive paper to create a photographic print without a camera, resulting in abstract imagery.
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A shot showing a character’s response to an event, typically following a significant moment or action in the narrative.
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A session where the cast and crew read the script aloud to evaluate performances, pacing, and overall structure.
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Readability refers to how easily text can be read, determined by factors like font choice, size, contrast, and line spacing.
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A concept introduced by Marcel Duchamp, where mass-produced, everyday objects are presented as art simply by the artist's designation, elevating them into the realm of creative expression.
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Real-time VFX refers to visual effects that are rendered and displayed immediately, without delay. Used primarily in video games, this technology allows artists to see and adjust effects in real time, ensuring a smooth user experience.
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Rear Screen Projection
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A technique filming live action in front of a transparent screen, adding background later.
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A film project previously approved but now canceled.
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Redshift is a GPU-accelerated rendering software used in post-production. Known for its speed and scalability, it supports both CPU and GPU rendering, allowing artists to achieve high-quality, photorealistic renders quickly, even with complex scenes.
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A metal/plastic spool for winding film; also refers to highlights of an actor/director's work.
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A reference is a visual source, like an image or video, that helps artists accurately recreate an object or environment in 3D. Reference material ensures that models and textures are realistic and consistent with real-world properties.
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Relational aesthetics
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An art practice that focuses on creating social environments or interactions, where the work's essence is the engagement it fosters between participants, often shifting the focus from the object to the experience.
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A sculptural technique where forms project from a flat surface, either carved or molded, creating a tactile and visual depth. Relief can also refer to methods in printmaking where raised surfaces carry the image.
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A printmaking method where the image is carved into a surface, and the raised areas are inked and pressed onto paper, commonly using materials like wood or linoleum.
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A technique using one light and reflector to create a lit triangle under the subject’s eye.
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A cultural and artistic period in Europe, roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, that marked a revival of classical art, literature, and learning, profoundly influencing Western civilization.
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A render farm is a network of computers used to render large volumes of images or scenes in parallel, significantly speeding up the rendering process. It’s commonly used in large-scale VFX productions where a high level of computational power is required.
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Render Queue is a list of tasks or files waiting to be processed in a render farm. Each task is rendered in sequence or in parallel, allowing for batch processing of large volumes of frames in VFX productions.
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RenderMan is a photorealistic 3D rendering software developed by Pixar. It’s known for its ability to create highly detailed and realistic images using advanced algorithms like Monte Carlo path tracing, making it a standard in the VFX industry.
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Rendering is the process of generating the final output from a 3D scene, which includes computing lighting, textures, shadows, and reflections. The rendered image is the final stage of a VFX project and is used for integration into live-action footage.
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Repetition involves using the same design elements multiple times in a layout to create unity and cohesion within the design.
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Showing a scene or moment again, typically to emphasize it or provide additional context.
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A copy of an artwork that closely mimics the original, typically produced by the artist or under their supervision, often with the intention of preserving the original’s details or intent.
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Art that seeks to represent real-world subjects, often realistic or lifelike, in contrast to abstract or non-representational art.
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Short for "resurrection," the act of reviving a player or non-player character that has died, allowing them to continue participating in the game.
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Resampling is the process of modifying a dataset, such as a video or image, by reading the existing data and creating a new dataset with altered properties. In VFX, it is often used to adjust resolution or frame rates.
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Reserved funds for additional shoots after test screenings or executive input.
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A natural or synthetic substance that is used in various applications, including adhesives, paints, plastics, and varnishes, often valued for its transparent, durable qualities.
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Art created to resist oppression, often associated with political movements, protests, and social change, particularly in the face of authoritarian regimes or unjust systems.
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Refers to the clarity of the visual display in a game, measured by the number of pixels in the image, with higher resolutions offering more detailed and sharper visuals.
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Resolution refers to the detail an image holds, typically measured in DPI or PPI. Higher resolution results in better quality and sharpness, while lower resolution can cause blurriness.
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Resolution refers to the number of pixels in a video or image. Higher resolution means more pixels, leading to greater image detail and clarity. In video, higher resolution results in sharper, more lifelike footage.
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Retopology is the process of simplifying a complex 3D model with a high polygon count by creating a more optimized, lower-polygon version. This helps with better animation and rendering performance while retaining visual detail.
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Return to order (rappel à l’ordre)
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A French cultural movement after World War I that rejected avant-garde experimentalism, promoting a return to classical art forms that emphasized balance, precision, and order.
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A moment in the story when important information is disclosed, often with dramatic or plot-shifting consequences.
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A shot from the reverse side of the subject offering varying perspectives, often used in dialogue scenes.
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A camera trick running film backward, also known as reverse action.
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A theater showing older, foreign, silent, or rarely-seen films.
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A production worker setting up lighting equipment and constructing scaffolding.
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Rigging is the process of creating a skeleton for a 3D model that can be animated. This involves placing bones or joints inside a character or object, which can then be manipulated to create realistic movements for animation or VFX.
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Right-aligned text is aligned to the right margin with uneven spacing (rag) on the left side of the text frame.
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A prescribed series of symbolic actions performed by individuals or groups, often with spiritual or cultural significance, frequently incorporated into art as a theme or medium.
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A controversial exploitation film shown and heavily promoted on the road.
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Roadshow Theatrical Release
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A limited release of a film, often with special events, screenings, and extra features, used for major films before wide release.
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A decorative and elaborate art style that emerged in the 18th century in France, known for its use of lightness, grace, intricate detail, and pastel colors, often associated with the aristocracy.
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The photoreceptor cells in the human eye that allow for the perception of light, color, and depth. Rods are responsible for vision in low light, while cones are crucial for color vision.
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A cultural and artistic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that emphasized emotion, individualism, and a reverence for nature, in contrast to the rationalism of the Enlightenment.
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An animation technique tracing live-action footage frame by frame.
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Rotoscoping is the technique of tracing over live-action footage, frame by frame, to create realistic motion in animation. This method is often used in VFX to separate elements from a shot or to paint over footage for compositing.
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An early edited cut of a film, lacking finer details like finished CGI, used in focus group screenings.
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The rule of thirds is a design principle where the composition is divided into three equal horizontal and vertical sections, with key elements placed along the lines or their intersections.
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An art movement of the 19th century that focused on the depiction of rural life in a realistic and often sentimental manner, emphasizing simplicity and a connection to nature.
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A group of British artists formed in the 1970s who focused on painting rural scenes, often portraying an idealized or nostalgic view of country life and nature.
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A print of camera footage from a day's shoot, shown without editing for director review.
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SFX (Special Effects) refers to practical effects used in filmmaking to create real-world illusions, such as explosions, rain, or artificial snow. Unlike VFX, SFX are physical effects achieved using specialized machines or techniques on set.
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SFX (Special Effects) refers to practical effects used in filmmaking to create real-world illusions, such as explosions, rain, or artificial snow. Unlike VFX, SFX are physical effects achieved using specialized machines or techniques on set.
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A system for recording and synchronizing the time of audio and video in post-production, ensuring precise alignment in editing.
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SOP (Surface Operators) in Houdini are nodes that create and manipulate geometry. DOP (Dynamic Operators) are used for simulations and effects like destruction, fluids, and particles, working together in Houdini’s procedural system to generate dynamic visuals.
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Acronym for "solid-state drive," a type of storage device that offers faster data retrieval and improved loading times compared to traditional hard drives.
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Originally an official art exhibition in France, the term now refers to various periodic exhibitions, often organized by a specific art institution, showcasing works by prominent artists.
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One of the first photographic printing processes, using paper coated with salt and silver nitrate to produce an image, often used in the early years of photography in the mid-19th century.
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A technique used in visual art and music that involves borrowing or reusing elements of existing works or cultural products to create new compositions, often with a critical or transformative intent.
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Sans serif fonts are typefaces without the small projecting features (serifs) at the ends of their strokes. These are often used for digital screens and websites due to their simplicity and readability.
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A film that ridicules and mocks social, religious, political, or economic institutions, like Tropic Thunder does to Hollywood and overly-serious actors.
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The intensity of a color. A saturated color is vivid and pure, often created by using unadulterated pigment or enhancing a painted surface with a glossy finish to intensify its color.
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Saturation describes the intensity of a colour. High saturation results in bright, vivid colours, while low saturation leads to dull or muted tones.
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Scale refers to the relative size of objects in a design. It can create hierarchy, making certain elements stand out, or convey importance by varying the sizes of different components.
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A unit of narration composed of a series of shots that takes place in a single location and concerns a central action.
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An avant-garde art school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, founded in 1946 to reflect modern science and promote a new art for the modern world.
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A term coined by artist R.B. Kitaj to describe a group of figurative painters in London during the 1970s who focused on human subjects in response to the dominance of abstraction.
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Refers to the group of artists, especially painters, who moved to Paris in the early 20th century and contributed to the city's prominence as the center of modern art.
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The musical portion of a film’s soundtrack, often composed specifically for the movie, including background music and orchestral pieces.
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A group of four Scottish artists in the early 20th century who were influenced by the French Fauve movement and introduced the use of intense color into British painting.
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Screen (Single, Double)
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A mesh on a metal frame to control light intensity without fully blocking it.
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The direction of character and object movement in a scene, often indicated as "camera right" or "camera left," and can include elements like jump cuts.
