Graphic Design & DTP Glossary

This glossary defines, in a single sentence, the essential terms of graphic design, DTP, 3D and video, to help you better understand our training courses.

Bitmap (raster) : an image made up of pixels, suited to photos but which loses sharpness when enlarged.

Vector : an image defined by mathematical paths, infinitely resizable without loss of quality.

RGB : the Red-Green-Blue colour mode used for on-screen display.

CMYK : the Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black colour mode used for printing.

DTP : Desktop Publishing — designing documents intended for print or digital use.

CAD / CAM : Computer-Aided Design / Manufacturing, for technical drawings and modelling.

Layer : a stackable level of a document that lets you work on each element separately.

Mask : a tool that hides or reveals part of a layer without erasing it, reversibly.

Cut-out : isolating an element of an image by separating it from its background.

Resolution (DPI/PPI) : the density of dots per inch that determines the sharpness of a printed image.

Master page (template) : a template page containing the repeated elements of a multi-page document.

Brand style guide : the reference document setting the consistent use of the logo, colours and typography.

Visual identity : the set of graphic elements (logo, colours, typography) that make a brand recognisable.

Motion design : the animation of graphic elements to convey a message or tell a story.

Keyframe : a point that records the value of a property at a given moment to create an animation.

Rendering : the final computation of an image or video from a 3D scene or a composition.

Slicer : software that slices a 3D model into layers and translates it into G-code for 3D printing.

G-code : the instruction language a 3D printer follows (movements, temperatures, speeds).

FDM : a 3D printing technology that deposits molten plastic filament, layer by layer.

SVG : a standard, open vector image format, ideal for the web and logos.

DWG : the standard format for CAD drawings, compatible with most CAD software.

Push-pull : a SketchUp tool that turns a 2D surface into a 3D volume with a single drag.

Persona : a specialised Affinity workspace dedicated to a task (retouching, RAW, export…).

GameObject : the basic element of a Unity scene to which components are attached (rendering, physics, script).