Last Updated: May 31st, 2001 by W. Lorelai Wu.

<< Back to Tutorials

A

a·ce·tate A type of transparent or semi-transparent sheet of plastic, available in various thicknesses, and used in making covers for artwork, cels in animated filmmaking, and as a material for printing plates.

a·ce·tone A volatile solvent commonly used with lacquers and in paint removers. It is soluble in water and alcohol. It is non-photochemically reactive. It can be used to clean up inks and adhesives. It is toxic and highly flammable.

a·cid free pa·per Paper with a pH of 7, or very close to 7. Below 6.5 pH or above 8.5 pH is not considered acid-free. Acid-free materials are more permanent and less likely to discolor or to damage materials they are placed with over long periods of time. Works on paper, and the mats that they are framed in are best if acid-free.

a·cry·lic ink Liquid inks that are commonly found in glass bottles with eye-dropper caps. These are commonly used for the airbrush. However, they can be used directly from the bottle as thinner versions of acrylic paint.

a·cry·lic me·di·um (gel, matte, glossy, pearl) A liquid or gel type of extender usually added to acrylic paint to give a matte or glossy or irridescent finish. It is composed of the same type of material acrylic is made of, but without the pigment. The medium can also be used a kind of glue for things like collages.

a·cry·lic paint A synthetic paint that is more versatile than oil paints. They can be used on nearly any surface with either matte or glossy finishes. Acrylic paints dry quickly, do not yellow, are easily removed with mineral spirits or turpentine (use acetone if those don't remove enough), and can clean up with soap and water.

adjacent colors See analogous colors.

air·brush A spray gun attached to an electric air compressor, or the use of this device to spray paints and inks. A variety of spraying effects can be achieved using an airbrush, such as gradients. The use of airbrush is strongly associated with commercial art, in which it is often used in illustrations, in photographic retouching, and other types of painting. This also refers to the airbrush tool available in most computer graphics programs.

air com·pre·ssor A machine used to compress air for airbrush use.

a·na·lo·gous co·lors Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel and are closely related. For example, blue, blue-green, and green all have the color blue in common. Families of analogous colors include the warm colors (red, orange and yellow) and the cool colors (green, blue and violet). [alt: adjacent colors]

an·gu·lar per·spec·tive The type of perspective when there is two vanishing points. Usually this is seen when facing a corner of a room or viewing the edge of a box. [alt: two-point perspective]

a·ni·ma·tion A motion picture made from a series of drawings simulating motion by means of slight progressive changes in the drawings. The predecessor to an animated movie was the flip book.

a·ni·me This word is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the English word, "animation." Anime in Japan is as large of an industry as motion pictures are in the United States. There are three ways in which anime is presented to the public: as a television series, an OVA, or a full length feature film. [alt: Japanimation, Japanime]

art·book In anime and RPGs, the word, "artbook" usually refers to a book produced by the original creators of an anime or game, and contains most of the following: artwork, screen shots, character descriptions and backgrounds, and/or interview(s). A close American approximation is the coffee table style books based on movies that contain production information and interviews with the directors and cast.

Art De·co An art movement involving a mix of modern decorative art styles, largely of the 1920s and 1930s, whose main characteristics were derived from various avant-garde painting styles of the early twentieth century. Art deco works exhibit aspects of Cubism, Russian Constructivism and Italian Futurism-- with abstraction, distortion, and simplification, particularly geometric shapes and highly intense colors - celebrating the rise of commerce, technology, and speed.

Art Nou·veau French for "The New Art." An art movement and style of decoration and architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, characterized particularly by the depiction of leaves and flowers in undulating lines, often flowing vines. Gustav Klimt (Austrian, 1862-1918), Alphonse Mucha (Czechoslovakian, 1860-1939), Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1861-1901), Aubrey Beardsley (English, 1872-1898), Antonio Gaudí (Spanish, 1852-1926), and Hector Guimard (French, 1867-1942) were among the most prominent artists associated with this style. The roots of Art Nouveau go back to Romanticism, Symbolism, the English Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris (English, 1834-1896). Art Nouveau is also known as Jugenstil and Yellow Book Style, epitomizing what is sometimes called fin de siècle style.

B

be·zier curve Curved lines (splines) defined by mathematical formulas. Nearly all draw programs support Bézier curves. Named after the French mathematician Pierre Bézier, Bézier curves employ at least three points to define a curve. The two endpoints of the curve are called anchor points. The other points, which define the shape of the curve, are called handles, tangent points, or nodes. Attached to each handle are two control points. By moving the handles themselves, or the control points, you can modify the shape of the curve.

bi·sei·nen This word is of Japanese origin. The characters used create a word that means, "beautiful young man." The word is used in anime and manga to denote a youth who is attractive in the typical Japanimation style. Usually, the biseinen is youthful in appearance, and is attractive in a slightly feminine way. Some common traits are sparkling eyes, flowing hair, slender build, and narrow jawline. This term is used very rarely, with most people using "bishounen" instead, however it is probably more accurate in terms of age.

bi·shou·jo This word is of Japanese origin. The characters used create a word that means, "beautiful little girl." The Japanese word, "shoujo" typically refers to a child, rather than a teen or youth. However, the word is used in anime and manga to denote an attractive girl or woman anywhere from her teens to her late twenties. Attractive female children are more often assigned adjectives such as "kawaii" rather than something with the more mature, often sexual overtones of "beautiful." [alt: bisho, bishou]

bi·shou·nen This word is of Japanese origin. The characters used create a word that means, "beautiful little boy." The Japanese word, "shounen" typically refers to a child, rather than a teen or youth. The word "biseinen" is actually more age-appropriate. However, the word is used in anime and manga to denote an attractive boy or man anywhere from his teens to his late twenties. One notable consistency in bishounen is the lack of facial and body hair, despite the fact that most of them are well into or past puberty. Attractive male children are more often assigned adjectives such as "kawaii" rather than something with the more mature, often sexual overtones of "beautiful." One thing to note is that there is no direct translation for the English word, "handsome," in Japanese. Men are praised on their strength, valor, and honor rather than their outward appearances. [alt: bishi, "bishy"]

blen·ding stump A stump of rolled paper used for smooth blending of graphite. [alt: torchon, tortillon]

blue pen·cil May refer to a pencil of a certain pale tone used to mark artwork and photographs because it does not reproduce on certain photographic films insensitive to blue. Such films are employed in preparations for some printing processes.

bond pa·per A good quality paper used for drawing and sketching.

bri·stol board A sturdy drawing surface used for many types of two-dimensional artwork, including lettering. It is available in several finishes, including a smooth plate finish and a medium vellum. It can be used on both of its sides. See also cold-press and hot-press.

brush clean·er A compound used to clean oil, acrylic, lacquer, etc. from artists' brushes. May also refer to a vessel or holder used for brush cleaning. This last is also called a "brush washer," typically consisting of a metal cup surmounted by a sturdy wire coil designed to hold brushes suspended in a liquid solvent.

brush·stroke The result of a brush loaded with paint or ink leaving some of that paint on a surface. In computer graphics programs, it refers simply to the line or color put down by using one of the pen or painting tools.

C

can·vas Commonly used as a support for oil or acrylic painting, canvas is a heavy woven fabric made of flax or cotton. Its surface is typically prepared for painting by priming with a ground. Linen-- made of flax-- is the standard canvas, very strong, sold by the roll and by smaller pieces. A less expensive alternative to linen is heavy cotton duck, though it is less acceptable (some find it completely unacceptable), cotton being less durable, because it's more prone to absorb dampness, and is less receptive to grounds and size. For use in painting, a piece of canvas is stretched tightly by stapling or tacking it to a stretcher frame. A painting done on canvas and then cemented to a wall or panel is called marouflage. Canvas board is an inexpensive, commercially prepared cotton canvas which has been primed and glued to cardboard, suitable for students and amateurs who enjoy its portability. Also, a stretched canvas ready for painting, or a painting made on such fabric.

car·bon pa·per A paper that is coated on its underside with a dark pigment, and used to transfer sketches and drawings to other surfaces. When marks are made with sufficient pressure upon its upper side, they are transferred to the surface placed below the carbon paper.

card pa·per A stiff paper which can be of varying thicknesses, usually made out of pressed paper pulp or adhered sheets of paper.

cast sha·dow The shadows the subject matter casts onto the "ground." It is very important to show cast shadows to help establish the distance of the light source as well as where the object stands in space.

catch·light The bright point of light that is "caught" by shiny elements in artwork such as eyes, jewelry, and metal. A catchlight is usually a simple white "twinkle" or glow.

cel A transparent sheet of celluloid on which objects are drawn or painted in the making of anime. Single cels from anime series or movies are often sold, with the prices depending upon availability and the popularity of the anime it comes from. Prices range from $15 US to well into the thousands.

CG This acronym stands for "computer graphic." However, it can be used as an acronym for "computer generated" as well. Example: This picture is CG, while this other picture was done in charcoal. It can also be used as a noun, meaning an artwork created or enhanced with a computer graphics program. Example: This picture is a CG that I colored in Corel Paint. Artists also use the acronym as a verb, meaning to create or enhance with a computer graphics program. Example: I am going to CG this sketch using Adobe PhotoShop. [alt: CGing, CG-ing, CGed, CG’d]

chalk Pigments mixed with gum and pressed into a stick form for use as crayons. Chalk is more tightly bound than pastels.

char·coal A dark or black porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances, such as from wood by charring in a kiln from which air is excluded. This substance is used to make charcoal pencils, which are used for creating artwork. The pencils themselves are sometimes referred to as charcoals. The results tend to be much softer, and can produce much richer shadows than the average pencil or color pencil. Charcoal lines are also quite dusty, and smudge much more readily. Charcoal comes in vine, compressed, and block form.

Chi·nese ink See India ink.

cold-press A type of finish on bristol or other illustration boards that is slightly rough/textured. Most medium types work well on this type of surface from watercolors to oil pastels to charcoal to markers. [alt: medium vellum]

cold·pressed pa·per A smooth watercolor paper.

co·llab·or·a·tion A work created by at least two different artists working together.

co·llage A work created by combining different elements to form one piece. This can be anything from macaroni and button art made in kindergarten, to a poster created by joining together different artworks.

co·lor ink Liquid watercolors that are found in clear bottles with eye-dropper caps. Many comic artists have been known to use these concentrated watercolors to achieve bright saturated watercolor works. However, the initial brightness have been known to fade over time. "Dr. Ph. Martin" is a popular brand. [alt: concentrated watercolor]

co·lor o·ver·lay A type of screentone that is transparent but colored. When cut and applied, like screentone/halftone, it gives the appearance of shading, but instead of dots of grey, it is in color.

co·lor pen·cils Pencils with lead of different colors, used mainly to color in artwork. See also pencil and Prismacolor.

co·lor wheel A radial diagram of colors in which primary and secondary, and sometimes intermediate colors are displayed as an aid to color identification, choosing, and mixing. The complement to each color is the color opposite that color on the color wheel.

co·ma (koma) This word is of Japanese origin. Its closest English counterpart is probably "panel." A coma is a box in a manga, in which the mangaka draws his or her artwork. A yon-coma or 4-coma refers to a "strip" style comic. These are usually drawn in from top to bottom, rather than from left to right as in American comic strips.

com·ple·men·ta·ry co·lors Colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, and violet and yellow. When complements are mixed together they form the neutral colors of brown or gray.

com·po·si·tion The visual composition of a drawing/painting by which there is interaction with space and form in and/or out of the boundries of the paper. (Open composition: a modern means of drawing/painting the subject matter where it extends over the edges of the paper. Closed composition: they way of portraying the subject matter contained within the edges of the paper).

con·cen·tra·ted wa·ter·co·lor See color ink.

con·te cra·yon The common and brand name for a drawing medium comparable to colored chalk. It is available in several colors. Most common are red-brown (called sanguine, French for blood), dark-brown (called bistre), black, grays, and white.

con·tour A type of drawing where the figure/object is strictly defined by lines, yet maintains a sense of depth and form. Usually seen in (blind) contour line drawings where the subject is drawn by following the edge of the form with the eye and simulataneously recording with the drawing tool.

con·trast Color range from light to dark.

cool co·lors Color often associated with water, sky, spring, and foliage, and suggest coolness. These are the colors which contain blue and green and appear on one side of the color wheel opposite the warm colors. Psychologically, cool colors are said to be calming, unemphatic, depressive; optically, they generally appear to recede.

Co·pic (marker) A brand name. Copics are widely thought to be the best color markers available for amateur artists.

copy (artwork) 1. A direct imitation or reproduction, or the act of creating such a work; 2. An imitation/rendition of a pre-existing artwork, especially official or published artwork. Usually line-for-line replication is involved, using the grid method, light boxes, or projectors, but direct eye-hand copying/tracing is popular as well. Copies are known to irritate and infuriate many artists, especially when they are sold (i.e. at conventions) for exorbitant amounts of money.

core sha·dow The darkest shadows seen on the subject matter.

cos·play This word is a combination of "costume" and "play." It means to dress up as, act like, and/or otherwise alter your appearance in order to closely resemble a certain pre-existing character from an anime, manga, or RPG. Cosplaying is most evident at anime conventions. [alt: cosplaying, cosplayed]

cos·play·er Someone who cosplays.

cra·yon Traditionally, any drawing material made in stick form, including chalk, pastel, conté crayons, charcoal, lithographic and other grease crayons, the wax coloring sticks made of paraffin, and patented under various trade names, available in several sizes and shapes, either water-soluble or not, usually in a paper wrapper.

cri·tique A critical review or discussion, especially one dealing with works of art or literature. Often refers to the evaluation of fine arts students' work. Also, to review or discuss critically. The word criticize often has a negative connotation, while critique is generally used more neutrally, or practically.

crop To trim one or more of a picture's edges, or to place one or more of the edges of an image so that only part of a subject can be seen within the image.

cross-hatch·ing To create a shading effect by drawing in a series of closely placed lines, and then drawing another set of lines across them at an angle.

D

depth The apparent distance from front to back or near to far in an artwork. Techniques of perspective are used to create the illusion of depth in paintings or drawings. Examples of these techniques are: controlling variation between sizes of depicted subject, overlapping them, and placing those that are on the depicted ground as lower when nearer and higher when deeper.

dou·jin·shi This word is of Japanese origin. Its most common usage is to refer to a manga written, drawn, and distributed by a person or persons other than the original creators of the anime, manga, or RPG that it is based on. Doujinshi are flagrant copyright violations from cover to cover, but their creators and distributors are left unpunished in Japan due to overwhelming popularity and demand. I believe that the socioeconomic structure of Japan would collapse overnight were the makers of anime and games to suddenly begin persecuting doujinshi artists. I’ve also found that the relative popularity of an anime or game can be gauged by counting how many yaoi doujinshi have been created for the series. Elsewhere, copyright infringement is dealt with much more severely, and so doujinshi remain an almost exclusively Japan-exported commodity. [alt: dj]

dpi Dots per inch. A measurement of the scanning resolution of an image or the quality of an output device. Expresses the number of dots a printer can print per inch, or monitor can display, both horizontally and vertically. A 600-dpi printer can print 360,000 (600 x 600) dots on one square inch of paper.

draft·ing pen These pens are made for precision inking. The nibs/tips are made of metal and ink flows through the chambers of the pen. A needle inside the tip of the pen vibrates up and down when drawing, allowing the ink to flow through. The durability of the tip allows for stipling and long-term use.

draft·ing tape A type of masking tape that is used to hold paper when drafting. The tape itself is less sticky than common masking tape, thus being easier to remove from paper.

dub An anime that has the original dialogue replaced with new dialogue. Dubs are generally less expensive and sometimes have more edited out than subtitled editions, due to difficulties in matching up the new script to the animated mouth movements. ("Godzilla" Syndrome)

E

e·chi This word is of Japanese origin. This is how the English letter "h" is pronounced in Japanese. The word is used to describe something perverted, or overtly sexual. For instance, Penthouse is an echi magazine. English synonyms might include nasty, naughty, and perverted. The English letter "h" is used in this manner because it is the first letter of the word, "hentai." [alt: ecchi, H] Note: due to the pronunciation of the word, sometimes the spelling varies. Alternative spellings might include, etchi, ecchi, or e-chi.

egg tem·pe·ra A watercolor medium used for permanent, fine works. See also tempera.

e·ra·ser shield A small, thin, flat metal tool used in drafting with various shaped "cut-outs". The cut-outs are placed over the area where the line was drawn too long or messily and then carefully erased away. It is used in cases where precision is necessary in the linework.

etch·ing The art or technique of cutting into the surface of metal plates and printing designs or pictures with them.

F

fan·art Artwork created by a fan, usually an amateur, based upon a pre-existing anime, manga, or RPG. These artworks are not acknowledged by the owners of the original series, and some companies will persecute those who display fanart based on their commercial products. The actions taken against the fanartist can include but is not limited to forced closure of a website or a monetary fine. The only RPG that I can personally confirm as "dangerous" to do fanart of is Lunar, for the Sony Playstation.

fan·art·ist Someone who draws fanart.

fan brush A type of brush that looks like a fan, primarily used for smooth blending. However, it can be used for creating tree and cloud-like effects.

flat·shade To color in an object with only one color. Something which has been flat-shaded has no highlights, shadows, or other variations in tone. The artwork has little or no 3D elements to it, therefore it is "flat." A flat-shaded artwork can have many different colors in it, but each element, i.e. hair, eyes, skin, has only one defined color value. Flatshading is usually the first step in coloring a picture in a computer graphics program. [alt: flat-shading, flat shading]

fan·sub This is an anime that is subtitled by fans. The anime is imported from Japan, translated, subtitled and then distributed. This is all done by people on their own time, on a strictly volunteer basis. Once fansubs are produced, they can be copied freely, and to relive the strain on the few main sources, most people get second or later generation copies from the huge network of people involved in copying and trading them.

fil·bert brush A brush with a conical shape.

fix·a·tive A thin varnish, natural or synthetic, that is sprayed over charcoal, pastel and other drawings to protect them from smearing, rubbing, or falling off the paper. All or some will alter the original colors slightly. Common hairsprays work well as student-grade fixatives.

flat brush The type of brush where the brush is flat and the tip is not tapered. It is best used for applying flat strokes of opaque color that are smooth but the strokes are "blocky" instead of tapered.

fore·shor·te·ning A way of drawing or painting an object or painting so that it seems to go back into space.

french curve - a plastic stencil normally used in drafting when drawing/inking curved areas. The tool can be turned any way to find the needed curve, then the line can be drawn/inked cleanly.

fris·ket An overlay or liquid gel that is used to mask an area to keep watercolor or airbrush or markers from coloring over an area. The overlay is best used for airbrush and marker works while they liquid gel works best for watercolor. The overlay is transparent and cut out with an x-acto knife, similar to screentone. The gel is applied with a brush and erased away when dried. [alt: masket]

fur·ry Any character that is animal-based in design, and has fur. The extent of the animal traits can be widely varied. A girl with fox ears and a tail and a fox that wears glasses can both be considered a furry.

G

ge·sso A white plaster-like acrylic that is used to coat canvas or paper for preparation of oil or acrylic paint.

gif Graphics Interchange Format. A widely supported image-storage format created by CompuServe that gained early widespread use on on-line services and the Internet.

gou·ache A heavy, opaque watercolor paint, sometimes called body color, producing a less wet-appearing and more strongly colored picture than ordinary watercolor. Also, any painting produced with gouache.

gra·da·tion A gradual, smooth, step-by-step change from dark to light values or from large to small shapes, or rough to smooth textures, or one color to another. [alt: gradient]

gra·phite A soft black mineral substance, a form of carbon, available in powder, stick, and other forms. It has a metallic luster and a greasy feel. Compressed with fine clay, it is used in lead pencils (though contemporary lead pencils contain no lead), lubricants, paints, and coatings, among other products.

gray scale The range of neutral values, or shades of gray in an image. The gray scales of scanners and terminals are determined by the number of grays, or steps between black and white, that they can recognize and reproduce.

grid method A popular and easy method for enlarging and shrinking pictures when tools and/or technology (see projector, light table) is not available. It consists of dividing a picture into a grid (tiles of arranged squares made by perpendicular crosshatching) and then transferring the picture to a larger or smaller paper, square by square. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the method has led to its abuse in generating large-scale swipes, which are then sold for large sums of money.

H

Ha-ke brush - a large flat brush, similar to a wash brush, with soft white bristles used for washing watercolor papers.

half·tone Printed imagery in which shades of gray are represented by a minute pattern of dots of variable size. [alt: screentone]

hen·tai This word is of Japanese origin. It is used to refer to a person or thing that is perverted or overtly sexual. When used to describe a person, it can also mean twisted or perverted in a way that does not necessarily have to be sexually related. English synonyms might include nasty, naughty, and sick. See also echi.

high key A type of drawing/painting where the overall contrast is very light.

high·light A contrasting pale area in an artwork that provides contrast, illumination, or the appearance of illumination. A reflection of a light source in an artwork, for example, the reflection of a sunlight in shiny hair or the reflection of light in somebody's eyes.

ho·ri·zon line (a.k.a. eye level) The line that defines your height of site. For example, when sitting on the beach, the line where the ocean disappears in the distance is the horizon line. All lines recede to the horizon line at vanishing points.

hot-press A type of finish on bristol or other illustration boards that is glossy smooth and white. Markers, airbrush, and ink work best on this surface. [alt: plate finish]

I

In·di·a ink The name in the United States for black ink, the pigment made from carbon-- traditionally lampblack (derived from non-electric lamps). This ink is also used in solid forms, mixed with a binding agent and molded into cakes or sticks. [alt: Chinese ink, Japanese ink, sumi]

ink As a verb, the word usually refers to physically going over a pencil sketch with a pen or marker to permanently fix the lineart. It can also refer to finalizing the lineart in a computer graphics program. An "inked" picture usually refers to one in which the lineart is in its final, finished form.

J

Ja·pa·nese ink See India ink.

Ja·pan·i·ma·tion This word is derived from "Japan" and "animation." See also anime. [alt: Japanime]

jpeg Joint Photographic Experts Group. Used to to refer to the standard they developed for still-image compression. Excellent file format for photographs used as Web graphics. Photoshop allows them to be saved at various quality settings-- lower settings requiring less memory, permitting speedier downloading. [alt: jpg]

ju·ne Pronounced "joo-ne," this word is of Japanese origin. It refers to homosexual relationships. It is used rarely, with "yaoi" and "yuri" in more widespread use.

K

ka·wa·ii This word is of Japanese origin. It means "cute" or "adorable." The inference is for something that is small and sweet, such as a kitten.

knea·ded e·ra·ser An elastic stretchable eraser that can be kneaded and molded to erase or smudge a desired area. Can be considered a drawing tool.

koma see coma.

L

lens flare A lens flare is a natural phenomena that occurs when light is refracted many times by some sort of lens creating several images of geometric shapes to appear from a single light source. It is also a standard effect available in Adobe PhotoShop. A PhotoShop lens flare is generally a bright point of light with glowing rings falling away from it in one or two directions. This filter has been used and over-used in so many fanarts that many artists have grown to scorn it.

le·tter·ing guide A clear plastic parallelogram shaped tool with a moveable circular "wheel" with little holes in it. The "wheel" can be turned according to the little marked nicks on the side. When placed on a straight edge, a pencil is placed in the appropriate hole and then the guide is dragged across the straight edge, leaving a light parallel line. By moving to different holes but keeping the guide on the unmoved straight edge, the guide lines will appear. These lines are used for keeping the letters straight and consistant, excellent for drafting and lettering comics.

light di·rec·tion See lighting/light source.

light source See lighting.

light ta·ble A work surface of translucent white glass or plastic with a lamp beneath it, used especially for looking at transparencies and for tracing.

light·ing The direction of which light is directly cast onto the subject. [alt: light direction, light source]

li·ne·ar per·spec·tive A system of drawing or painting in which the artist attempts to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. The lines of buildings and other objects in a picture are slanted inward making them appear to extend back into space. If lengthened these lines will meet at a point along an imaginary horizontal line representing the eye level. Each such imaginary line is called an orthogonal. The point at which such lines meet is called a vanishing point.

line·art The outlines of a picture, as in a cartoon or anime cel. Generally, the lineart is done in ink or CG, and is black. However, lineart can be of any color or combination of colors, or not exist at all. Varying widths and styles can be used to change the mood or "feel" of an artwork.

lin·er brush Similar to a round brush, the tip is longer and flatter. The brushes are usually very thin and small, used for detail work and lining.

li·tho·graph A picture produced by a printing process in which the image configuration is rendered on a flat surface, and treated so that only those areas to be printed will retain ink.

lo·cal co·lor The true color of an object or a surface as seen in typical daylight, rather than its color as seen through atmosphere or interpreted by the taste or imagination of the artist. Thus the characteristic local color of a lemon is yellow.

low key a type of drawing/painting where the overall contrast is very dark.

lu·min·o·si·ty A quality seen in some paintings of a glow coming from within, the illusion that there is actually a light coming out of the picture. Glossy colors are more likely to provide this luminous effect than matte colors.

M

man·ga This word is of Japanese origin. Basically, it is the Japanese word for comic book. However, manga are nothing at all like what Marvel Comics create. In Japan, the manga industry is comparable to the paperback novel industry in the United States, rather than the comic book industry. Manga and anime are very closely related, as artists frequently crossover, as do the characters they create. Usually the manga is created first, and if it gains in popularity, is considered for a much larger (and expensive) target audience. In this, a manga can be likened to a novel, which, if the author is well-received, can be turned into a major motion picture.

man·ga·ka This word is of Japanese origin. It means, "manga author."

mar·ker color ink based tools that come in both permanent and water-based versions.

mas·ket See frisket.

ma·so·nite A type of board that is very similar to clipboard boards. They can be bought in hardware stores for a good price and can be used as odd/larger sized drawing boards, or when coated with gesso, they can be painted on instead of canvas.

mat·board A mat that is typically cut from a heavy cardboard. Matboard serves two very important functions in the overall framing of a picture. First and foremost it protects the artwork and second it showcases and enhances the subject being framed. It is important to protect works of art on paper, photographs, and other framed objects from direct contact with glass. Matboard provides a barrier from the airborne pollutants, moisture, acids and other damaging impurities that can impact the life of the framed piece. Matboard when used correctly also leads your eye into the artwork, enhancing the overall effect. Whenever a work's presentation or storage environment should be of archival quality, be sure to use acid-free matboard. It is more expensive, but is much less likely to discolor artworks over time.

matte Having a dull, flat, non-reflective, sometimes roughly textured finish, perhaps of paints, metal, paper or glass ; the opposite of glossy.

mech This word is derived from the Japanese adaptation of "mechanical," referring mostly to humanoid robots. Examples: Gundam Wing, Robotech, Macross. [alt: mecha]

me·di·um vel·lum See cold-press.

mixed me·di·a A technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, such as ink and pastel or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition.

mo·de·ling paste A thick paste with resin added used for texturizing acrylic. It is usually applied with a pallete knife to the canvas to create the rough texture, dried, then painted over.

move·ment The feeling by which the viewer's eye can freely roam around the drawing/painting. This is strongly associated with positive and negative space.

N

ne·ga·tive space The area that surrounds the subject matter in space. For example, when viewing a tree from under its branches, the negative space is the air/sky seen through the branches.

ne·ko·mi·mi This word is of Japanese origin. It literally means "cat ears." The word is used to describe a character (usually female) who has cat ears. Often, a nekomimi will also have a cat’s tail, or other feline traits.

nib Metal tips to be attached to pen holders. To use, they are dipped into a bottle of ink then taken directly to the paper. When pressure is applied, the tip of the nib opens slightly to allow the ink to touch the paper, thus creating the stroke of ink.

O

o·blique per·spec·tive (a.k.a. 3-point perspective) The type of perspective when there are three vanishing points. Usually this is seen from a bird's-eye view or looking up a very large building. Also, this is seen when viewing a corner of a box.

oil me·di·um 5 parts turpentine, 1 part stand oil, 1 part damaar varnish. Used to extend the durability of paint when mixed into oil paint. Also used to thin the paint for transparent wash-like effects. (a ready-made gel called "Liquin" can be used for the same purpose)

oil paint Slow drying paint made when pigments are mixed with an oil, linseed oil being most traditional. The oil dries with a hard film, and the brightness of the colors is protected. Oil paints are usually opaque and traditionally used on canvas.

o·paque Something that cannot be seen through; the opposite of transparent. The opacity of a medium is judged by the ability to cover or obscure the surface on which is it used.

o·ta·ku This word is of Japanese origin. It is an old, rather derogatory form of "you." In anime, it is used to describe a person whose fanaticism has reached a truly obsessive level. It is used in both derogatory and praiseful ways, in much the same way as you might label someone a "computer brain."

out·line A type of line describing only the surface form of the subject.

OVA This acronym stands for "original video animation." [alt: OAV - original animation video]

P

paint Pigment which is dispersed into a liquid, called a vehicle, which includes a binder to make it adhere both to itself and to the surface to which it is applied. Types of paint include tempera, watercolor, oil paint, gouache, enamel, encaustic, fresco, lacquer, oriental lacquer, and secco.

Paint, Corel This is a computer graphics program created by Corel. It is one of the most popular programs used in the United States for fanartists.

pa·lette Usually made of wood, glass, or disposable waxed paper, they are used to hold and mix paint on.

pa·lette knife A flexible metal or plastic knife used to mix paint. It can also be used as a painting tool to apply paint with.

pa·ra·llel per·spec·tive (a.k.a 1-point perspective) The type of perspective when there is only one vanishing point. Usually this is seen when looking down a hallway or when a face of a box is parallel to the viewer.

parch·ment An ancestor to contemporary paper, parchment is a material on which to write or paint prepared from the skin of a sheep or goat. It replaced the use of papyrus during the ancient Roman period. Monastic scribes of the Middle Ages practically monopolized its use in Europe preceding the introduction there of papermaking techniques utilizing plant fibers in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Parchment may also refer to paper made in imitation of this material.

pas·tel Pigments mixed with gum and pressed into a stick form for use as crayons. Pastels are not as tightly bound as chalks.

pas·tel brush A flat-tipped round brush used to apply pastel powder lightly. [alt: stencil brush]

pen·cil An implement for drawing or writing, consisting of a thin rod of graphite, colored wax, chalk, charcoal, or another such substance which can be sharpened to a fine point, either encased in wood or held in a mechanical holder. Most common today are pencils which contain "leads" which are actually made of graphite, because actual lead is such a poisonous substance.

Pho·to·Shop This is a computer graphics program created by Adobe. It is one of the most popular programs used in the United States for fanartists.

pic·ture plane The paper you are drawing on.

pig·ment Finely powdered color material which produces the color of any medium. made either from natural substances or synthetically, pigment becomes paint, ink, or dye when mixed with oil, water or another fluid (also called vehicle). When pressed into wax it becomes a crayon, pencil or chalk.

pi·xel Short for "picture element," a dot of color on a video or computer screen, similar to the grains in a photograph, or dots in half-tone rat. On a computer monitor, each pixel can represent a number of different shades or colors, depending upon how much storage space is allocated for it.

plate fi·nish See hot-press.

port·fo·li·o A collection of one's best artworks for display.

Por·trait Drawing/painting/otherwise rendered illustration of a subject, usually human or humanoid, from the collarbone up. (3D sculpture equivalent: bust)

po·si·tive space The area where the subject matter is in space. For example, when viewing a tree from under its branches, the positive space is the tree itself.

pri·ma·ry co·lors The colors yellow, red (magenta), and blue (cyan) from which it is possible to mix all the other colors of the spectrum-- also known as the subtractive or colorant primaries. Thus pigments that reflect light of one of these wavelengths and absorb other wavelengths may be mixed to produce all colors. Also, the light (-source) primaries: Lights of red, green, and blue wavelengths may be mixed to produce all colors. Light primaries are used in theatrical stage lighting, and in color video and computer screens.

Pris·ma·co·lor A brand name. Prismacolors are widely thought to be the best color pencils available for amateur artists.

Pro·jec·tor An artist tool that uses light and mirrors to capture a small image (usually 5x7 to 8x11) into a drastically larger projection. Used to enlarge artwork when the grid method is not applicable, i.e. wall murals and large-scale paintings.

R

ra·pi·do·graph See drafting pen.

re·flec·tive light The faint light seen sometimes on the opposite edge of an object when light is cast. Reflective light helps to show a depth in the object's form, showing that the object moves away from the viewer. For example, reflective light is best seen on cylindrical or spherical objects when light is cast directly on the object and a faint light is seen on the opposite edge where shadow should be.

replica A copy or reproduction, usually one on a scale smaller than the original. Used to have the connotation of having the same manufacturer/artist as the original. [source: American Heritage Dictionary]

RGB This acronym stands for "red green blue." An additive system for representing the color spectrum using combinations of red, green and blue.

round brush The type of brush where the brush itself is gathered in a circular fashion and tapered to a point. Best used for applying paint in detail.

RPG This acronym stands for "role playing game." This can refer to anything from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons to Super Mario Brothers to Final Fantasy IX.

S

sa·tu·ra·tion In color, its purity of hue. A pure hue has the highest saturation.

scale (large/small)Refers to the relative size of an artwork. Large-scale and small-scall are general terms that refer to the general size category that the artist is working in: large, and small. It's been generally accepted that 'large' refers to anything comparable/larger than the human body, and 'small' refers to anything noticeably smaller than the human body.

scan·ner An image-capture device resembling a photocopy machine. The object to be scanned is placed face-down on a glass plate.

screen·tone See halftone.

SD This acronym stands for "super deformed." It refers to the style of drawing where the human figure is purposefully deformed, usually by enlarging the head to anywhere from one fourth to one half the body height. Over-large eyes and other physiological impossibilities are common.

ser·i·cel An image which may or may not have appeared in an animated film that has been printed -- by serigraphraphy -- onto an animation cel, usually as part of a limited edition. A sericel would not have been photographed in the making of an animated film.

shade To darken part of an artwork to provide contrast, shadows, or the appearance of shadows. Also, a color to which black or another dark hue has been added to make it darker. For example, black added to green makes it a darker shade of green. Value changes from pure hues are called shades and tints.

shou·jo This word is of Japanese origin. The characters used are "little" and "female," and the word itself means, "girl." The implied age range is roughly elementary school age or slightly older.

shou·nen This word is of Japanese origin. The characters used are "little" and "male," and the word itself means, "boy." The implied age range is roughly elementary school age, or slightly older.

sight·ing The act of measuring distances. Usually seen done with a pencil held at extended arm's length and one eye closed.

silk·screen A stencil method of printmaking in which an image is imposed on a screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the printing surface. Also called serigraphy and screen-printing.

ske·le·tal struc·ture The basic structural form of the human body divided into 3 main sections: the skull, the ribcage, and the pelvis. All three are connected by the axis (the spinal cord). The arms and legs are the also included.

sketch A quick drawing that loosely captures the appearance or action of a place or situation. Sketches are often done in preparation for larger, more detailed works of art.

smudge The act of blending or dragging color with one's finger, an eraser, or other tools.

sol·vent A liquid substance which is able to solve (dissolve) another substance, either for cleaning, mixing, or some particular step in an art technique. Common solvents include water (especially when soapy), turpentine and paint thinner, alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner, toluene, plastic cement (model airplane cement), and naphtha. Solvents are commonly available at hardware stores, as well as at art supply stores. All solvents can be dangerous-- most are toxic,volatile, and flammable-- so be sure to study their labels carefully, in order to handle, store, and dispose of them properly.

sten·cil Stiff paper (or other sheet material) with a design cut into it. Ink or paint forced through the design openings will produce a print on a flat surface placed beneath. Also, the image produced, and the process of making it.

sten·cil brush See pastel brush.

stip·pling The technique where tiny dots are used to create the form.

sto·ry·board A series of simple pictures that depict the important changes of scene and action in a planned film or video production.

straight edge - Usually a ruler, a straight edge can be anything with a smooth, straight edge that can support a pencil being pressed against it as you draw. Straight edges are most often made out of wood, plastic, or metal.

sty·lus The pen-like tool used to draw on tablets.

sub An anime that has subtitles at the bottom. This is done so that people who do not speak Japanese and do not like dubs can still enjoy anime.

sumi, sumi-e See India ink.

su·mi-e brush A chinese style natural hair brush used in calligraphy and ink wash. Usually seen with a bamboo handle.

swipe, artwork [negative connotation] an artwork 'swipe' refers to a piece of artwork which contains unoriginal underlying structure. The picture may be of an 'original' scene or character, but is composed by directly referencing/copying the composition or pose of another artwork. Swipes are the most difficult type of copying to catch, and are frowned upon, even insulting, to many artists. See also replica, copy artwork.

T

tab·let A device by which pictorial information is entered into a computer in a manner similar to drawing, using a stylus.

ta·re·me This word is of Japanese origin. It means, "eyes that slant down." The word is used in anime and manga to denote a style that depicts characters with eyes that slope down at the outer corners. The characteristics or general atmosphere usually attributed to tareme characters (most often girls) are; sweet, sad, gentle, innocent, and young.

ta·re·me·ko A character (most often a girl) drawn in the tareme style. Note: due to the pronunciation of the word, sometimes the spelling varies. An alternative spelling might be "taremekko."

tem·pe·ra paint A method of painting in which the pigment is carried in an egg, casein, gum, or glycerine solution in water. The process of painting in tempera is the oldest method of painting known; the wall paintings of ancient Egypt and Babylonia, and of the Mycenaean period in Greece (1400?-1200 BC), were probably executed in tempera with a medium of egg yolk, to which a little vinegar was sometimes added. Tempera paints are opaque and matte (no gloss), and they remain stable in color for long periods. Egg tempera can be buffed once it is completely dry to yield a rich, lustrous finish.

tex·ture An element of art which refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object, its smoothness, roughness, softness, etc. Textures may be actual or simulated. Actual textures can be felt with the fingers, while simulated textures are suggested by the way the artist has painted certain areas of a picture.

three di·men·sio·nal Having, or appearing to have, height, width, and depth.

thumb·nail A very small and loose drawing. In digital imaging, a small image usually derived from a larger one, also known as a browse image.

TIFF Tagged Image/Interchange File Format. In digital imaging, a file-storage format implemented on a wide variety of computer systems. Considered an industry standard, but so open that header information is used in many different ways.

tint A color to which white has been added. For example, white added to green makes a lighter green tint. The illustration below diagrams colors of various values. Value changes from pure hues are called tints and shades.

tor·chon See blending stump.

tor·ti·llon See blending stump.

tra·cing Making a drawing by referring to an image visible underneath it. Tracing paper is made translucent for this purpose. While artists sometimes use tracing simply as a means of copying another image, and often their own image, they use it best to improve upon images.

trans·fer pa·per Paper coated with a packed pigmented powder. When marks are made with sufficient pressure upon the paper's uncoated side, a likeness of those marks is transferred to the surface placed below the transfer paper with the pigments from its coated side. There are many commercial and hand-made types. To make your own transfer paper, rub pencil or crayon marks densely onto an area of paper.

trans·lu·cent Allowing some light to pass through, but greatly obscuring the image of objects on the other side. A quality that is between transparent and opaque. Materials that may be translucent include glass, papers such as glassine, plastics such as Lucite and Plexiglas, and porcelain.

trans·pa·rent Allowing light to pass through so that objects can be clearly seen on the other side; the opposite of opaque. Window glass, cellophane and watercolors are usually transparent.

tri·an·gles - These plastic triangles are designed for drafting exact angles and corner, but also work great as straight edges and rulers.

two point perspective See angular perspective.

V

va·lue scale A series of spaces filled with the tints and shades of one color, starting with white or the lightest tint on one end, and gradually changing into the darkest shade or black on the other.

va·ni·shing point The point where all line recede to in perspective. Note: it is possible to have more than one.

ver·ti·cal ax·is a line perpendicular to the ground.

vec·tor

W

warm co·lors Colors often associated with fire and sun, which suggest warmth. These are colors which contain red and yellow and appear on one side of the color wheel opposite the cool colors.

wash brush A large flat brush used primarily for watercolors. When the brush is loaded with water and paint, a large area can be covered with even color.

wa·ter·co·lor Any paint that uses water as a medium. Paintings done with this medium are known as watercolors.

wa·ter·co·lor pen·cils These pencils look like colored pencils but are water-soluable. When washed with a brush with clean water, the colored areas will appear watercolor-like.

wet and dry pa·per Paper with a coating of silicon carbide, used as an abrasive; a type of sandpaper. Its common name derives from the fact that it can be used wet or dry, as suitable with the materials abraded and the surface finish required.

wet-on-dry A technique of coloring/washing an area then waiting for the area to dry before coloring over. The effect is less blended the edges are more apparent.

wet-on-wet A technique of coloring/washing an area then quickly coloring over for a more blended appearance.

white ink A opaque white paint/ink used for correction and highlights. White-out is commonly used in place of white ink.

Y

ya·o·i This word is of Japanese origin. It comes from the phrase, "yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi." Directly translated, it means, "without peaks, without depths, without meaning." The closest English synonymous phrase is PWP, or "Plot? What plot?" PWP is used to describe fanfiction which has been written purely for the sake of sex. Yaoi can apply to fanfiction, fanart, doujinshi, or practically anything which involves a male/male homosexual relationship. Yaoi is usually homoerotica, but it does not always involve a sexual relationship. Note: do NOT confuse this word with Yayoi, which is an early period in Japanese art history, from about 200 B.C. - A.D. 200, and was the first metal-using culture in Japan.

yu·ri This word is of Japanese origin. This is the lesbian version of the word "yaoi." See also yaoi.