Video Terms

Learn the key video production terms that every creator should know. This concise glossary covers everything from technical terms to essential industry lingo, helping you elevate your content and streamline your workflow.

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10-bit 4:2:2

A color depth and chroma subsampling format providing higher color accuracy and better image quality.

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2-beep

A sound used in pre-roll or pre-recorded audio to signal the start of an action or take.

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2-pop

A one-frame beep used in synchronization of film and audio, occurring two seconds before the start of the program.

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3:2 pulldown

A process of converting 24 frames per second film to 30 frames per second video, maintaining smooth motion.

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A-roll

The primary footage in a video that contains the main story or content. It's the backbone of your video, featuring your key messages and main narrative.

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Action safe area

A designated area within the frame where all important visual content must appear to ensure it’s visible on all screens. Think of it as the zone where your crucial visuals won’t get cut off.

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After Effects

A powerful software from Adobe used for creating motion graphics and visual effects. It’s like Photoshop for video, enabling you to add professional-level polish and creativity.

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Alpha channel

It helps create layered visuals, allowing parts of an image or video to be see-through.

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Ambient sound

The background sounds present in a scene or location. It’s the subtle audio that sets the mood and realism, making your video feel alive and immersive.

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Aperture

The opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light reaching the sensor.

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Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or screen.

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Assembly

The initial stage of editing where all footage is organized in sequence.

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B-roll

Supplemental footage used to support the main story, providing context and additional visual interest.

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BITC (Burnt-in timecode)

Timecode that is permanently embedded in a video image for reference during editing.

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Bit rate

The amount of data processed per unit of time in a video or audio file.

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Bokeh

The aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image.

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Boom microphones

Microphones mounted on a boom pole, used to capture sound from a specific area or subject.

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Bump tease

A short teaser segment used to preview upcoming content before a commercial break.

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Bumper

A brief segment used as a transition between a show and commercials or other content.

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Burnt-in captions

Subtitles that are permanently embedded into the video image.

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C-stand

A type of stand used in film and video production to hold lighting equipment and other gear.

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Captions

Text displayed on screen to provide dialogue and other relevant information.

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Chroma key

A technique used to composite two images or video streams together based on color hues.

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Clean plate

A shot of a scene without the main subject, used for compositing effects in post-production.

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Close-up

A tightly framed shot of a subject, often focusing on the face or a specific detail.

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Codec

A device or software that compresses and decompresses digital video and audio data.

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Cold open

A narrative technique where the story starts before the opening credits or title sequence.

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Color Correction

The process of adjusting the colors in a video to achieve a desired look.

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Color Temperature

A measure of the color of light, expressed in degrees Kelvin (K).

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Color grade

The process of enhancing the color, contrast, and overall look of a video in post-production.

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Compositing

The process of combining multiple visual elements into a single image or video.

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Conform

The process of matching an edited video to a final version of the project’s timeline.

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Contrast Ratio

The ratio between the darkest and brightest parts of an image.

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Countdown leader

A visual countdown used in the lead-up to the start of a film or video.

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Crop factor

A factor that relates the field of view of a camera sensor to that of a 35mm film frame.

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DVI

Digital Visual Interface, a standard for transmitting digital video content.

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Data rate

The speed at which data is transferred, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

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Depth of field (DOF)

The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp.

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Diegetic sound

Sound that originates from within the story world of a film, such as dialogue or natural sounds.

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Diffusion

The process of scattering light to reduce its intensity and create a softer, more even light.

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Digital Light Projection (DLP)

A display technology used in projectors to create high-resolution images.

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Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) that uses tiny mirrors to modulate light in DLP projectors.

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Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)

A type of digital camera that uses a mirror mechanism to reflect light from the lens to the viewfinder.

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Digital Zoom

A method of cropping and enlarging the image digitally rather than using the camera’s optical lens.

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Dissolve

A gradual transition from one image to another in video editing.

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Dynamic range

The range of brightness levels that a camera or display can capture or show, from the darkest to the brightest.

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Exposure

The amount of light allowed to hit the camera sensor, determining the brightness of an image.

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F-stop

A measure of the aperture size in a camera lens, affecting exposure and depth of field.

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FPS (frames per second) or Frame Rate

The number of individual frames displayed per second in video playback, determining how smooth the motion appears.

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Fade

A gradual change in audio or video levels, often used to transition between scenes.

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Fauxtograph

A staged or manipulated photograph that is presented as a real, unaltered image.

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Five-by-five (5×5)

A format for creating concise, informative content, typically five points presented in five minutes.

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Focal length

The distance between the lens and the image sensor, determining the field of view and magnification.

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Focal-stop (F-stop)

Another term for f-stop, referring to the aperture setting of a lens.

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Foley

The reproduction of everyday sound effects added to film and video in post-production.

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Footage

Raw, unedited material as originally recorded by a camera.

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Frame Rate

The frequency at which frames in a video sequence are displayed, typically measured in frames per second (FPS).

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Framing

The composition and placement of subjects within the boundaries of a shot.

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Fresnel

A type of lens that focuses light into a narrow beam, often used in stage lighting.

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Gaff tape

A strong, fabric-based tape used in film and television production for securing cables and equipment.

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Gels

Colored filters placed over lights to change the color of the illumination.

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H.264/H.265

Video compression standards known for their efficiency and high quality, commonly used in streaming and recording.

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Handles

Extra footage at the beginning and end of a shot, used for transitions in editing.

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High definition media interface (HDMI)

A standard for transmitting high-definition video and audio between devices.

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High dynamic range

A technology that allows for greater contrast and color range in video and images.

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Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)

A format for high dynamic range video designed for backward compatibility with standard dynamic range displays.

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Hydrargyrum medium-arc Iodide

A type of light source used in high-intensity discharge lamps.

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J-cut

An editing technique where the audio from the next scene starts before the video cuts to it.

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Jump cut

An abrupt transition between shots, often used to show the passage of time or to add energy to a scene.

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L-cut

An editing technique where the audio from the current scene continues into the next scene.

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LUT

Look-Up Table, used in color grading to map one set of colors to another.

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Lapel

A small microphone clipped to a person's clothing, often used in interviews and presentations.

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Latitude

The range of exposure values a camera sensor can capture while retaining detail in both shadows and highlights.

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Lavalier microphone

A small, clip-on microphone used for hands-free operation in interviews and presentations.

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Long-form video

Video content that is longer in duration, typically over 10 minutes.

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Lower third

A graphic overlay placed in the lower area of the screen, often used for titles and captions.

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Luma

The brightness component of a video signal, separate from the color information.

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Motion graphics

Graphics that use video and animation technology to create the illusion of motion.

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Narration

The act of telling a story or providing commentary in a video.

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Natural sound

Sound recorded on location, capturing the real environment of a scene.

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Neutral density filter

A filter that reduces the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for greater control over exposure.

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One-minute video

A short, concise video typically used for social media and marketing purposes.

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PAL

A color encoding system for analog television used in most countries outside of North America.

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Picture lock

The stage in editing when all changes to the film or video cut have been completed and approved.

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Pixel aspect ratio

The ratio of the width to the height of a single pixel in a digital image.

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Post-roll

Additional footage that plays after the main content of a video.

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Pre-roll

Short promotional videos that play before the main content.

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Resolution

The amount of detail in an image, typically measured in pixels.

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Split screen

A visual effect in which the screen is divided into two or more parts, showing different images simultaneously.

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Stop motion

An animation technique where objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames.

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Storyboard

A visual representation of a film sequence, broken down into individual panels with sketches and notes.

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Sync (synchronization)

The process of aligning audio and video so that they play back in unison.

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TRT

Total Running Time, the total length of a video or film.

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Talking head

A video format featuring a person speaking directly to the camera.

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Teaser

A short preview of upcoming content designed to pique interest.

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Testimonial videos

Videos featuring customers or clients talking about their positive experiences with a product or service.

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Three-point lighting

A lighting technique that uses three light sources (key, fill, and back) to illuminate the subject.

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Timecode

A coded signal on video or audio that is used for synchronization and logging purposes.

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Timelapse

A technique where the frequency of film frames is much lower than that used to view the sequence, giving the illusion of fast motion.

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Title safe

The area of a video frame within which text and graphics are guaranteed to be visible on all screens.