CRT Definition
Stands for "Cathode Ray Tube." CRT is the technology used in traditional computer monitors and televisions. The image on a CRT display is created by firing electrons from the back of the tube to phosphors located towards the front of the display. Once the electrons hit the phosphors, they light up and are projected on the screen. The color you see on the screen is produced by a blend of red, blue, and green light, often referred to as RGB.
The stream of electrons is guiding by ma...
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Monochrome Definition
Monochrome Definition
The word "monochrome" literally means "one color." Therefore, a monochrome image only includes one color, but may contain many shades. In computing, "monochrome" typically refers to a two-tone image, rather than one with several shades of a single color. For example, a monochrome monitor uses one color for the background and another to display text or images on the screen.
Before color monitors became standard, most computers had monochrome displays. These displays often h...
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Halftone Definition
Halftone Definition
A halftone, or halftone image, is an image comprised of discrete dots rather than continuous tones. When viewed from a distance, the dots blur together, creating the illusion of continuous lines and shapes. By halftoning an image (converting it from a bitmap to a halftone), it can be printed using less ink. Therefore, many newspapers and magazines use halftoning to print pages more efficiently.
Originally, halftoning was performed mechanically by printers that printed images...
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CMYK Definition
CMYK Definition
Stands for "Cyan Magenta Yellow Black." These are the four basic colors used for printing color images. Unlike RGB (red, green, blue), which is used for creating images on your computer screen, CMYK colors are "subtractive." This means the colors get darker as you blend them together. Since RGB colors are used for light, not pigments, the colors grow brighter as you blend them or increase their intensity.
Technically, adding equal amounts of pure cyan, magenta, and yellow should...
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WYSIWYG Definition
WYSIWYG Definition
Stands for "What You See Is What You Get," and is pronounced "wihzeewig." WYSIWYG refers to software that accurately represents the final output during the development phase. For example, a desktop publishing program such as Photoshop is a WYSIWYG graphics program because it can display images on the screen the same way they will look when printed on paper. Word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Apple Pages are both WYSIWYG editors, because they include page layout m...
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Multimedia Definition
Multimedia Definition
As the name implies, multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media. This includes text, graphics, audio, video, etc. For example, a presentation involving audio and video clips would be considered a "multimedia presentation." Educational software that involves animations, sound, and text is called "multimedia software." CDs and DVDs are often considered to be "multimedia formats" since they can store a lot of data and most forms of multimedia require a lot of dis...
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Hertz Definition
Hertz Definition
Hertz (abbreviated: Hz) is the standard unit of measurement used for measuring frequency. Since frequency is measured in cycles per second, one hertz equals one cycle per second.
Hertz is used commonly used to measure wave frequencies, such as sound waves, light waves, and radio waves. For example, the average human ear can detect sound waves between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Sound waves close to 20 Hz have a low pitch and are called "bass" frequencies. Sound waves above 5,000 Hz have ...
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Kilohertz Definition
Kilohertz Definition
One kilohertz (abbreviated "kHz") is equal to 1,000 hertz. Like hertz, kilohertz is used to measure frequency, or cycles per second. Since one hertz is one cycle per second, one kilohertz is equal to 1,000 cycles per second.
Kilohertz is commonly used to measure the frequencies of sound waves, since the audible spectrum of sound frequencies is between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. For example, middle C (C4) on a piano keyboard produces a frequency of 261.63 Hz. The C key two octaves ab...
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Facebook Definition
Facebook Definition
Facebook is a social networking website that was originally designed for college students, but is now open to anyone 13 years of age or older. Facebook users can create and customize their own profiles with photos, videos, and information about themselves. Friends can browse the profiles of other friends and write messages on their pages.
Each Facebook profile has a "wall," where friends can post comments. Since the wall is viewable by all the user's friends, wall postings a...
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Instagram Definition
Instagram Definition
Instagram is an online photo sharing service. It allows you to apply different types of photo filters to your pictures with a single click, then share them with others. While is a rather basic service, Instagram's simplicity has helped it gain widespread popularity.
While nearly all smartphones have built-in cameras, they often do not produce quality photos. By using Instagram, you can liven up otherwise mediocre images and make them look more professional. For example, Ins...
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