GLOSSARY

Hi, y'all. I'll keep this updated.

JH

apparent vs. real-- adjs., Apparent is the way objects look in perspective drawings, photos and to our eyes in reality. Real is the way they actually are. For example, While apparently larger and lower in a photo, the near boat is of course really level with the far boat and the same size.

converge-- v., to come together at a point, as in Projection lines converge on a vanishing point.

to draw through-- v., to lay out (lightly and simply sketch) the structure of an object as if the major forms were transparent. Drawing through respects the maxim that, "Even if you can't see it, it shows"

diminution-- n., the change of scale in a perspective drawing that make more distant objects relatively smaller.

elevation-- n., a drawing of the side view of a building or part of a building, etc. The horizontal dimension is collapsed into 2D and the scale is consistent. (compare plan)

elevation of light-- n., in drawing, the point on a wall that represents the position of a nearby light source projected horizontally the shortest possible distance to the wall. (This horizontal projecting will take place apparently on a diagonal in an isometric drawing or most perspective drawings.)

inclined plane-- n., a surface such as a ramp or roof that -- because it is not horizontal -- uses vanishing point(s) above or below the horizon.

plan-- n., a drawing of the top view of a building or part of a building, etc., as in floor plan. The vertical dimension is collapsed into 2D and the scale is consistent. (compare elevation)

plan of light-- n., in drawing, the point on a floor that represents the position of an elevated light source projected vertically downward. Used for reckoning the direction of light, which radiates from this point.

projection lines-- n., lightly ruled lines that run toward a vanishing point. They extend or continue the lines that make up a rectilinear object, such as a building ( rather than merely connecting to them). Projection lines are used both to construct drawings of objects in perspective and to check such drawings. They are not to appear in the final drawing, as a rule. I recommend only drawing the ones you need to, only as far as you need to, and using blue pencil.

Rectilinear-- adj., made of straight lines and right angles

Storyboarding terms and abbreviations:

ANIMATES (as in "BG animates")-- v., Used to denote when an element that one might expect to be fixed art, like background, moves in way that requires it to be redrawn (several times for each second of screen time).
ANTIC = Anticipation-- In animation, the action before the main action, the backswing for example. Or a person might hunch down in their seat before jumping up in alarm.
BG = Background
BG Pans-- In animation, this term is used when a moving object, such as a car, retains a relatively fixed location in the frame, while the background moves past behind it. Familiar to all viewers of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, whose BGs would pan through cyclically over and over in the same shot.
CRANE SHOT-- A shot in which the camera moves freely over the subject in any direction by virtue of being positioned on a crane. Crane shots are often used at the end of movies to pull up and away from the subject, in order to put him in context in the larger world.
CU = Closeup-- A shot framed around the subject's head. See the text, p.210, for an example.
DOLLY SHOT-- A shot is which the camera rolls, such a tracking shot.
DS = Downshot-- Shot in which the camera is aimed down toward the subject (compare Upshot).
ECU = Extreme Closeup-- A shot so tightly framed it shows less than the full head. Shots that show tight closeups of small important objects are also ECUs.
FG = Foreground
HOOK UP-- In animation, when an action begun in one shot is continued from the same instant in the following shot. Action must match.
EXT = Exterior Shot (compare INT)
INT = Interior shot (compare EXT)
INTO SCENE-- In animation, used when a character or object moves into the frame under its own power after the shot has begun.
Med Shot = Medium Shot = Mid Shot-- a shot that includes the upper half of the subject's body. See text, p. 210, for an example.
OC = Off -Camera-- Not shown in a shot (but perhaps nearby)
OS = Out of scene = Offscreen-- In animation, OS is used when a character or object moves out of the frame after the shot has begun, under it own power, i.e., not solely due to camera panning.
PAN, ~RIGHT, ~LEFT, ~UP, ~DOWN -- v., In animation, all camera moves other than zooms are known as pans. In filmmaking, only pivoting horizontally is considered a pan (compare Dolly, Push, Tilt, Truck).
OTS = Over the shoulder-- A shot in which a subject who is facing us is shown using the back of the head and the shoulder of another subject in the extreme foreground as a framing device.
POV = Point of View -- showing a scene from a character's POV is also known as subjective camera.
PUSH IN, ~OUT; TRUCK IN, ~OUT-- v., In filmmaking, camera motion toward and away from the subject, respectively, by camera set on wheels and sometimes even tracks. In 2D animation only, the term is replaced by Zoom.
TILT UP, ~DOWN-- v., In filmmaking, when the camera tips up or down, often to follow the subject's motion. In animation, it's called a pan up or a pan down.
Wide Shot -- nearly the same as Long Shot and Establishing shot -- a framing loose enough to accommodate multiple figures, as well as a lot of scenery.
SC = Scene -- In animation, one shot: the footage between two edits.
In other filmmaking, a contiguous series of shots, usually linked by setting (e.g., the bank robbery scene, the funeral scene.)
TILT UP, ~DOWN-- v., In filmmaking, when the camera tips up or down, often to follow the subject's motion. In animation, it's called a pan up or a pan down.
A dolly shot in which the rolling camera is focued on a moving subject.
US = Upshot-- Shot in which the camera is aimed up at the subject.
VO = Voiceover-- Words spoken by a character who doesn't speak them live on screen. Often it is narration.
ZOOM-- Shifting from wide angle to telephoto lenses, or vice versa, as the shot continues. In animation most motion toward and away from the subject is accomplished this way and the terms Push or Dolly are not used.