Turn here for a quick refresher on that digital photography term that’s stuck somewhere in the dark recesses of your brain and refuses to come out and play. For more information about a topic, check the book's index.

24-bit image:

An image containing approximately 16.7 million colors.

Adobe RGB:

One of two color space options available on your camera; determines the spectrum of colors that can be contained in the image. Adobe RGB includes more colors than the default option, sRGB, but also involves some complications that make it a better choice for advanced photographers than beginners.

AEB:

Auto Exposure Bracketing, a feature that automatically records multiple exposures using different exposure settings.

AE lock:

A way to prevent the camera’s autoexposure (AE) system from changing the current exposure settings if you reframe the picture or the lighting changes before the image is recorded.

aperture:

One of three critical exposure controls; an opening in an adjustable diaphragm in the camera lens. The size of the opening is measured in f-stops (f/2.8, f/8, and so on), with a smaller number resulting in a larger aperture opening. Aperture also affects depth of field (the distance over which focus remains acceptably sharp).

aperture-priority autoexposure (A Shooting mode):

A semiautomatic Shooting mode, selected by moving the Shooting mode switch to the A position. The photographer sets the aperture and the camera selects the appropriate shutter speed to produce a good exposure at the current ISO (light-sensitivity) setting.

autoexposure:

A feature that puts the camera in control of choosing the proper exposure settings.

Auto Shooting mode:

The simplest Shooting mode on the Z fc; allows the camera to control most picture-taking settings. Select by rotating the Shooting mode switch to the Auto symbol.

bit:

Stands for binary digit; the basic unit of digital information. Eight bits equals 1 byte.

bit depth:

Refers to the number of bits available to store color information. More bits means more data.

blocked shadows:

Describes an exposure problem in which the darkest parts of an image are so underexposed that areas that should contain subtle variations in brightness instead appear as large areas of solid black, obscuring detail in the shadows.

blown highlights:

Describes an exposure problem in which areas that should show a subtle gradation of light to very light tones instead appear as flat areas of solid white, eliminating any details in the brightest areas of the image.

Brightness histogram:

A graph that maps shadow, midtone, and highlight brightness values in a digital image; an exposure-monitoring tool that can be displayed during image playback.

bulb mode:

A shutter speed setting that keeps the shutter open as long as you hold down the shutter button. Available only in the M (manual) Shooting mode.

burst mode:

Another name for the Continuous shooting Release mode settings, which record several images in rapid succession with one press of the shutter button.

byte:

Eight bits. See also bit.

Camera Raw:

A file format that records the photo without applying any of the in-camera processing or file compression that is usually done automatically when saving photos in the other standard format, JPEG. Also known as Raw. Indicated by the file extension .NEF on Nikon cameras.

clipped highglihts:

Another term for blown highlights.

color space:

A specific spectrum of colors that can be rendered by a camera or other digital device. See also sRGB and Adobe RGB.

color temperature:

Refers to the color cast emitted by a light source; measured on the Kelvin scale.

compression:

A process that reduces the size of the image file by eliminating some image data.

contrast:

The amount of difference between the brightest and darkest values in an image. High-contrast images contain both very dark and very bright areas.

crop:

To trim away unwanted areas around the perimeter of a photo, typically done in a photo-editing program.

depth of field:

The distance from the subject over which focus appears acceptably sharp. With shallow depth of field, the subject is sharp but distant objects are not; with large depth of field, both the subject and distant objects are in focus. Manipulated by adjusting the aperture, lens focal length, or camera-to-subject distance.

diopter adjustment control:

The wheel next to the viewfinder that enables you to adjust the viewfinder to your eyesight.

dynamic range:

The overall range of brightness values in a photo, from black to white. Also refers to the range of brightness values that a camera, scanner, or other digital device can record or reproduce.

edges:

Areas where neighboring image pixels are significantly different in color; in other words, areas of high contrast.

EV Compensation:

A control that increases or decreases the exposure chosen by the camera’s autoexposure mechanism. EV stands for exposure value; EV settings appear as EV +1.0, EV 0.0, EV –1.0, and so on.

exposure:

The overall brightness and contrast of a photograph, determined mainly by three settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Exposure Compensation:

Another name for EV compensation.

file format:

A way of storing image data in a digital file; your camera offers two formats, JPEG and Camera Raw (NEF).

Fill Flash mode:

A flash setting designed to fill in darker areas of an image, such as shadows cast on subjects’ faces by bright overhead sunlight or backlighting. Consider this mode “normal flash.”

firmware:

The internal software that runs the camera's “brain.” Nikon occasionally releases firmware updates that you should download and install in your camera (follow the instructions at the download site). Some lenses also require firmware updates.

Flash Exposure Compensation:

A feature that enables the photographer to adjust the strength of the camera flash.

formatting:

An in-camera process that wipes all data off the memory card and prepares the card for storing pictures.

frame rate:

In a movie, the number of frames recorded per second (fps). A higher frame rate translates to crisper video quality and larger files.

f-number, f-stop:

Refers to the size of the camera aperture opening. A higher number indicates a smaller aperture opening. Written as f/2, f/8, and so on. Affects both exposure and depth of field.

gamut:

Pronounced gamm-ut. The range of colors that a monitor, printer, or other device can produce. Colors that a device can’t create are said to be out of gamut.

gigabyte:

Approximately 1,000 megabytes, or 1 billion bytes. In other words, a really big collection of bytes. Abbreviated as GB.

grayscale:

An image consisting solely of shades of gray, from white to black. Often referred to generically as a black-and-white image (although, in the truest sense, an actual black-and-white image contains only black and white with no grays).

HDMI:

Stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. A type of port for connecting your camera to a high-definition television.

HDR:

Stands for high dynamic range and refers to a picture that's created by merging multiple exposures of the subject into one image using special computer software. The resulting picture contains a greater range of brightness values — a greater dynamic range — than can be captured in a single shot.

histogram:

A graph that maps brightness values for each pixel in a digital image. See also Brightness histogram, RGB histogram.

hot shoe:

The connection on top of the camera where you attach an auxiliary flash.

image sensor:

The array of light-sensitive “buckets” (technically called photosites) in your camera that collect light corresponding to three primary wavelengths: red, green, and blue. The amount of light collected is converted into digital information.

ISO:

Traditionally, a measure of film speed; the higher the number, the faster the film. On a digital camera, it means how sensitive the image sensor is to light. Raising the ISO allows faster shutter speed, smaller aperture, or both, but also can result in a noisy (grainy) image. Stands for International Organization for Standardization, the group that devised the ISO standards.

jaggies:

Refers to the jagged, stairstepped appearance of curved and diagonal lines in low-resolution photos that are printed at large sizes.

JPEG:

Pronounced jay-peg. The primary file format used by digital cameras; also the leading format for online and web pictures. Uses lossy compression, which eliminates some data in order to reduce file size. A small amount of compression does little discernible damage, but a high amount destroys picture quality. Stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the group that developed the format.

JPEG artifact:

A defect created by too much JPEG compression.

Kelvin:

A scale for measuring the color temperature of light. Sometimes abbreviated as K, as in 5000K. (Note that in computer-speak, the initial K more often refers to kilobytes, as described next.)

kilobyte:

One thousand bytes. Abbreviated as K, as in 64K.

lossless compression:

A file-compression scheme that doesn’t sacrifice any vital image data in the compression process, used by file formats such as TIFF. Lossless compression tosses only redundant data, so image quality is unaffected but files are larger than when a lossy format such as JPEG is used.

lossy compression:

A compression scheme that eliminates important image data in the name of achieving smaller file sizes, used by file formats such as JPEG. High amounts of lossy compression reduce image quality.

manual exposure (M mode):

A Shooting mode that enables you to control both aperture and shutter speed. Enable it by moving the Shooting mode switch to the M position.

manual focus:

A setting that turns off autofocus and instead enables you to set focus by rotating the focusing ring on the lens.

megabyte:

One million bytes. Abbreviated as MB. See also bit.

megapixel:

One million pixels; used to describe the resolution offered by a digital camera.

metadata:

Extra data that gets stored along with the primary image data in an image file. Metadata often includes information such as aperture, shutter speed, and EV compensation setting used to capture the picture, and can be viewed using special software. Often referred to as EXIF metadata; EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format.

Metering mode:

A setting that determines which area of the frame the camera considers when calculating the proper exposure. Modes available on your camera include spot, which bases exposure on a small area at the center of the frame; center-weighted, which reads the entire scene but gives more emphasis to the subject in the center of the frame; matrix, which calculates exposure based on the entire frame; and highlight-weighted, which gives preference to the brightest tones in the image.

monopod:

A telescoping, single-legged pole on which you can mount a camera and lens in order to hold it more stably while shooting. It will not stand on its own, unlike a tripod.

NEF:

The acronym used for the Nikon Camera Raw format; stands for Nikon Electronic Format.

noise:

Graininess in an image, caused by a very long exposure, a too-high ISO setting, or both.

OS:

Short for operating system; used to describe the base software that runs mobile devices and computers.

NTSC:

The standard video format used by televisions in North America, Mexico, and some parts of Asia (such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines).

PAL:

The video format common in Europe, China, Australia, Brazil, and

Picture Control:

A setting designed to render images using different color, sharpness, and contrast characteristics; options on the Z fc include Auto, Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape, Flat, and Creative Picture Control.

pixel:

Short for picture element. The basic building block of every image.

pixelation:

A defect that occurs when an image has too few pixels for the size at which it is printed; pixels become so large that the image takes on a mosaic-like or stairstepped appearance.

ppi:

Stands for pixels per inch. Used to state image output (print) resolution. Measured in terms of the number of pixels per linear inch. A higher ppi usually translates to better-looking printed images.

programmed autoexposure (P Shooting mode):

A semiautomatic exposure mode. The camera selects both f-stop and shutter speed, but you can select from different combinations of the two and access all other camera features. Rotate the Shooting mode dial to the P position to select.

Raw:

See Camera Raw.

Raw converter:

A software utility that translates Camera Raw files into a standard image format such as JPEG or TIFF. Nikon ViewNx 2, provided free with your camera, offers this tool.

red-eye:

Light from a flash being reflected from a subject’s retina, causing the pupil to appear red in photographs. Can sometimes be prevented by using the Red-Eye Reduction flash setting.

Release mode:

The camera setting that determines when and how the shutter is released when you press the shutter button. The default setting is Single Frame, which records one picture for each press of the shutter button. Other options include Continuous modes, which record a burst of images as long as you hold down the shuttter button, and Self-Timer mode, which delays the shutter release for a few seconds after you press the shutter button.

resampling:

Adding or deleting image pixels. Adding a large amount of pixels degrades images.

resolution:

A term used to describe the number of pixels in a digital image. Also a specification describing the rendering capabilities of scanners, printers, and monitors; means different things depending on the device.

RGB:

The standard color model for digital images; all colors are created by mixing red, green, and blue light.

RGB histogram:

A three-tiered chart that breaks down pixel brightness values according to their red, green, and blue light values. Used to evaluate exposure as well as color saturation in a digital image.

SD card:

The type of memory card used by your camera; stands for Secure Digital.

SDHC card:

A high-capacity form of the SD card; stands for Secure Digital High Capacity and refers to cards with capacities ranging from 4MB to 32MB.

SDXC card:

Secure Digital Extended Capacity; used to indicate an SD memory card with a capacity greater than 32MB.

sharpening:

Applying an image-correction filter to create the appearance of sharper focus.

shutter:

The mechanical or electronic device that controls how long light is allowed to strike the image sensor and expose the image. The duration of the exposure is controlled by the shutter speed setting.

shutter-priority autoexposure (S Shooting mode):

A semiautomatic exposure mode in which the photographer sets the shutter speed and the camera selects the appropriate aperture. Select it by setting the Shooting mode switch to the S position.

shutter speed:

The duration of the image exposure. Most often measured in fractions of a second, as in 1/60 or 1/250 second.

slow-sync flash:

A special flash setting that allows (or forces) a slower shutter speed than is typical for the normal flash setting. Results in a brighter background than normal flash.

sRGB:

Stands for standard RGB, the default color space setting on your camera (and the one recommended for most users). Developed to create a standard color spectrum that (theoretically) all devices could capture or reproduce.

Stop:

An increment of exposure adjustment. Increasing the exposure by one stop means to select exposure settings that double the light; decreasing by one stop means to cut the light in half. Sometimes referred to as a step in Nikon manuals and camera menus.

TIFF:

Pronounced tiff, as in a little quarrel. Stands for tagged image file format. A popular image format supported by most Macintosh and Windows programs. It is lossless, meaning that it retains image data in a way that maintains maximum image quality. Often used to save Raw files after processing.

tripod:

Used to mount and stabilize a camera, preventing camera shake that can blur an image; characterized by three telescoping legs.

UHS:

A classification assigned to some SD memory cards; stands for Ultra High Speed.

USB:

Stands for Universal Serial Bus. A type of port for connecting your camera to your computer. USB ports come in several designs; most devices now use USB-A or USB-C connectors.

Vibration Reduction:

A feature designed to compensate for small amounts of camera shake, which can blur a photo. Indicated on some Nikon lenses by the initials VR.

white balance:

Adjusting the camera to compensate for the color temperature of the lighting. Ensures accurate rendition of colors in digital photographs.