This document defines various video editing terminology used in the production process. It discusses key terms related to aspects of filming like camera angles, lighting, and editing techniques. Specific terms are defined such as aspect ratio, backlighting, close-up, credits, and fade. The summary also covers terms involved in the post-production process like rendering, sound editing, and creating timelines. Software tools used for video editing, screen recording, and file conversion are listed at the end.

1. VOCABULARY
• Aspect-Ratio – in general, a term for how the image appears on the screen based on how it was shot; refers to the ratio of width (horizontal or
top) to height (vertical or side) of a film frame, image or screen; the most common or standard aspect ratio
• Backlighting- occurs when the lighting for the shot is directed at the camera from behind the subject(s), causing the figure(s) in the fore-
ground to appear in semi-darkness or as silhouettes, or highlighted; with backlighting, the subject is separated from the background.
• Camera- from a hand-held version to portables, to heavy studio cameras
• Camera Angle- the point of view (POV) or perspective (including relative height or direction) chosen from which to photograph a subject.
• Camera Movement- the use of the camera to obtain various camera angles and perspectives: pan, tilt, zoom, hand-held)
• Close-Up- a shot taken from a close distance in which the scale of the object is magnified, appears relatively large and fills the entire frame
• Credits- refers to the list of technical personnel, cast, and crew of a film, as well as sited sources
• Cut/Slice- refers to editing; dividing a clip, to remove or apply transitions
• Editing- the process of selecting, assembling, arranging, trimming, structuring, and joining together many separate camera takes (includes
sound also) into a complete, determined sequence or order of shots
• Export- process of converting a video/audio file into a useable product (usually a final product)
• Fade- An optical effect in which the screen gradually brightens as a shot appears or gradually darkens as a shot fades to black or another
color. Sound also fades in or out when the sound track gradually changes from silence to sound, or from sound to silence.
• Film- (1) as a verb, to record a scene (2) as a noun, refers to a motion picture, or (3) the thin strip of material on the film negative
• Frame- what fits within the camera recording area or projection/video player
• Focus - when the subject is clear and not fuzzy
• In-camera editing- refers to filming in the exact order required for the final product, eliminating the post-production editing stage.
VIDEO EDITING VOCABULARY (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) >
VIDEO EDITING VOCABULARY
Lindsay Karp, ITAC
Instructional Technologist
Videographer / Editor
Study Guide | Page 1
ASPECT-RATIO
BACKLIGHTING
CAMERA
CAMERA ANGLE
CAMERA MOVEMENT
CLOSE-UP
CREDITS
CUT/SLICE
EDITING
At the end of this section, you will be able to:
• DEFINE terms used for video editing
EXPORT
FADE
FILM
FRAME
FOCUS
IN-CAMERA EDITING
LIGHTING
MAKEUP
MONTAGE
NTSC
POST PRODUCTION
POINT OF VIEW
RENDER
SCRIPT
STORYBOARD
SOUND
SCENE
SEQUENCE
TIMELINE
VOICE OVER
VIDEO
ZOOM-IN
ZOOM-OUT
VIDEO EDITING VOCABULARY

2. •
VIDEO EDITING VOCABULARY (CONTINUED)
• Lighting- refers to the illumination of a scene, and the manipulation of light and shadows.
• Standard 3 point Lighting– Key, Fill and Back light
Fill: This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows
created by the key.
• Makeup- important to look best on camera- apply basic powder to face to avoid shine, women should wear lipstick to avoid looking washed out.
Remember- if filming yourself- you are the star.
• Montage- refers to a filming technique or editing style of putting together or assembling shots; or a movie collage consisting of a series of short
shots or images that are rapidly put together, transitions are often used to link the images in a “montage sequence”top) to height (vertical or side)
of a film frame, image or screen; the most common or standard aspect ratio
• NTSC- American- an abbreviation, refers specifically to National Television System Committee that sets TV and video standards, also refers to
the US video systems
• Post production- the final stage in a film’s production after principal photography or shooting, involving editing, the addition of sound/visual
effects, musical scoring, mixing, dubbing, distribution, etc.; in digital post-production, can also include changing facial expressions, removing
flaws or obtrusive objects (microphone, boom, etc.), enhancing the visual image, etc.; aka post; contrast to pre-production
• Point of View- film in which the narrator knows (and sees) everything occurring in a story, including character thoughts, action, places,
conversations, and events; contrast to subjective point-of-view
• Render- a process that occurs when exporting a video project, it’s a process that runs for every special effect or transition that is added to a
video project.
• Script- a blueprint for producing a film detailing the story, setting, dialogue, movements and gestures of actors, and the shape and sequence of all
events in the film
• Storyboard- A sequence of drawings, typically with some directions and dialogue, representing the shots planned for a movie or video production
• Sound-the audio portion of a film including dialogue, music, and effects; sound effects refers to all created sounds except dialogue or music
• Scene - usually a shot (or series of shots) that together comprise a single, complete and unified event or element
• Sequence- A particular order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other or to arrange in a particular order.
• Timeline- In video editing, a timeline is a commonly used interface found in most video editing programs. This interface enables authors to
lay a video project out in a linear fashion horizontally across a monitor. (2) A chronological display of an edited sequence in a non-linear editing
system.
• Voice Over- refers to recorded dialogue, usually narration, that comes from an unseen, off-screen voice, or narrator; narration is a type of voice-over
• Video- refers to a system of recording, creating, or making series of moving visual images on videotape , film, digital, edited or raw
• Zoom –in- makes the image appear to move closer
• Zoom-out- makes the image appear farther away
Key: This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is
placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadowpost-
production editing stage.
Back: The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting
(like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject’s outlines. This
helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.
VIDEO EDITING / SCREENCAST / CAPTURES / CONVERTERS:
• Windows Movie Maker (available on PC) • Screenr - http://www.screenr.com/
• SoThink Video Converter- http://www.sothinkmedia.com/video-converter/download.htm • Jing -http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
Study Guide | Page 2