active document
The document displayed in the active document window, affected by the View and other commands. A document can appear in more than one document window at once. As long as one of those windows is active, the document itself is active.
active document window
This window appears "on top" of all other document windows (unless tiled), and its title bar is a different color. It contains one view of the active document, the one to which the chosen commands apply. To activate a window, click in its title bar.
The "top" edit layer, the one that can be marked up and edited. New edit layers are always active. Existing edit layers can be activated with the Layers window. Only one edit layer at a time can be active on each page.
active multipage
Active document that happens to be a multipage document. See current multipage.
The raster layer that is affected by the Raster menu commands and can be cut, copied, and pasted. Raster layers are active when first opened or created.
algorithm
Prescribed set of well-defined steps used to solve a problem or conduct an operation.
annotation
A note placed on an image that can be displayed as text or as an icon: 
Application programming interface. The API allows programmers to integrate this program with other programs, to control it remotely, or to customize the user interface.
arc
Vector object in the shape of an unbroken curved line.
aspect ratio
Relationship of width to height. When aspect ratio is maintained, the image is scaled proportionally. When it is not, the image is "stretched" vertically or horizontally when scaled.
attributes
Attributes characterize the appearance (size, color, font, and so on) of an existing object.
The part of the image that lies behind the color or black pixels (in positive images), vector objects, or text. Compare foreground.
Text string, similar to a header or footer in a word processing program, that can be placed on the top or bottom of a printed or faxed page, or rasterized with an image. The banner appears outside the image boundaries. Compare stamp.
Layer at the bottom of the page, below all other layers. Compare overlays.
Black-and-white image. Raster image in which data is stored as one data bit for one dot (or pixel) of raster data. The data is either on or off (black or white) with no intermediate status.
binding objects
Making a set of objects a permanent group so that all are selected when one is clicked.
A raster image. A collection of dots (called pixels) that make up an image.
bitonal
Another word for bilevel or black-and-white.
Sub-layers on an edit layer. Some vector images have a base layer that consists of one or more CAD layers.
calibration
Calibration is used when measurements returned based on the image resolution are not accurate. It acts like a scale on a map. For example, you may know that an image line is 1.5 inches long, but the value returned when you use the Measure tool on it is 3 inches. In that case you could calibrate the page by 0.5 so that the line measures 1.5 inches. All further measurements are then accurate.
cap
End point of an object line. It can be rounded or squared.
Settings in dialog boxes that can be selected (þ) and cleared (¨).
Clipboard
Temporary memory storage in a computer where data is held while it is being copied from one place to another.
CMC = computer-mediated communication. E-mail programs can be CMC-compliant.
color management
The process of converting colors from one color space to another.
color profile
A set of mappings to convert colors between source color spaces and destination color spaces.
Raster image in which combinations of red-green-blue (RGB) form the color pixels.
A representation of all the possible colors that can be produced by an output device.
compression
A technique for making raster data sizes smaller, so that they consume less RAM and disk space. A raster file in its native or raw form is uncompressed. Compression is achieved by applying mathematical algorithms to the data storage process.
configuring
Defining the default attributes.
Combining two or more edit layers to form a single edit layer. Compare rasterize.
cross-sectioning
Using cross section to "cut away" portions of the 3D model to show the interior of a 3D model.
Control key on the keyboard, used for selecting items non-sequentially, and for keyboard shortcuts.
The displayed portion of the active multipage, whether or not that is an embedded page.
current page
Page displayed in the active document window that is affected by commands. Its title bar is displayed in reverse field.
A blue-green color, similar to turquoise. It reflects blue and green, and absorbs red.
data format
See file format.
Preset conditions and attributes that determine the operation of the program. The default value is automatically assigned unless you specifically request another one. See preferences and options.
deselect
To "turn off" an object that is selected, so that it is no longer ready to be modified. See select.
deskewing
Straightening a raster image to compensate for a crooked scan.
despeckling
Removing unwanted black specks or white holes from a raster image. See noise.
Detail window
A floating window that shows a magnified view of the pointer location at the selected scale factor (by default 1:1).
dither
To simulate gray or color in a bilevel image with a particular pixel pattern.
Any file that can be opened, edited, and printed.
document types
Classification of documents according to the data they contain. Imagenation can read raster, vector, and text document types, in certain formats. Raster files are made up of dots, vector files of objects and equations, and text files of text with formatting.
These basic document types can be combined to create other document types: multilayer page documents, multipage documents, and sets.
dpcm, dpi
dp = dots per cm = centimeter
i = inch
Each is a measure of image resolution. See resolution.
A layer that can contain vector objects, raster pastes, and the text from text documents, but not full raster images. See active edit layer.
Performing functions found in the Edit and Raster menus, such as erasing, cutting, despeckling, and deskewing.
The various "flavors" of Imagenation, such as View-Redline and View-Markup-Edit.
A line or curve on a 3D model bounded by one or more vertex. See vertex.
One or more pages contained within a multipage document at a lower, more subordinate level than other pages.
enclosing multipage
Multipage document that contains embedded pages.
Escape key, generally used to cancel operations.
Saving an independent page or layer document without replacing the active document.
Limits or edges of an image.
Dimension objects with arrowheads and extension lines at each end. The dimension text appears in the center of the line. Compare internal linear dimensions.
On a 3D model, edges form an enclosed shape called a face. See edge.
A file is all the data that describes one document, maintained under a single name and stored in a computer.
The way the information is stored in a document. Often indicated by file name extensions, such as .dxf, .pdf, or .mil.
A small window that can be placed anywhere on your desktop--that is, it "floats" above all other windows. Floating windows often show a different view of the image, and generally allow you to perform certain actions on the active document.
The complete assortment of characters for one style and size of a particular typeface, including uppercase and lowercase characters, figures, and punctuation marks.
Times
Courier New
Arial Narrow
Part of the image that consists of color or black pixels (in positive images), vector objects, or text, as opposed to the background behind the image. Compare background.
global
Settings that affect all documents, objects, or tools.
Raster image in which each dot (or pixel) is assigned a number ranging from 0, for black, to some other number--often 255--for white. Each number in between represents an ever-lighter shade of gray.
group
A collection of objects logically connected so that they can be moved, changed, or deleted as though they were a single object.
hairline
Line objects of zero width. These vectors are displayed as lines of 1 screen pixel thickness at all scale factors.
hatch
A fill pattern consisting of parallel line segments, or, in the case of vector hatch patterns, a variety of patterns. Hatch is a fill option for boxes, polygons, circles, and ellipses.
Hatch-filled box: 
header
Data attached to the beginning of a file that describes or controls the actions that apply to the following data, such as rotation, mirroring, data type, and compression.
Drawing with the Highlighter or Highlight Area tool, so that translucent (semi-transparent color) sketch lines or areas are produced. See translucent.
Objects on edit layers that send messages to associated programs when placed or activated or both. When activated, they generally cause actions to occur, such as opening programs, copying windows, or echoing text.
International Color Consortium (ICC)
Promoter of a standard color profile specification. See http://www.color.org
Graphic (raster or vector) or text displayed on a page or layer.
Default name for the initialization file that defines how the program operates by default. You can set most defaults using the Preferences or other dialog boxes and commands, but some require that you edit the Image.ini file directly using a text editor.
Recording "human readable" images--pictures, images, text, and so on--into "machine-readable" formats--microfiche, computer data, videotape, OCR output, ASCII text, and so forth.
importing
To bring a layer or page into the active document.
.ini
Usual extension for initialization files. See Image.ini.
Any rational, whole number; that is, not a decimal or fraction.
Dimension lines with arrowheads at both ends and text in the middle. They have no extension lines. Compare external linear dimensions.
inverted image
Image in which the black and white sections are reversed. Similar to negative images, except that the color ratio is maintained when the image is reduced. Reduced negative images look darker than reduced inverted ones. Inversion can be applied to any image.
|
Invert off |
Invert on |
K
Acronym of kilobyte. Literally, this means 1,000 bytes, but to a computer, it is actually 1,024 bytes.
keyboard shortcuts
See shortcut keys.
A text string that is associated with each document as it is saved. It can be up to 80 characters long and can include spaces. Often used to label files for insertion into a database. Labels are displayed in document window title bars.
layer
Every image in the program appears on a layer. Layers are two-dimensional planes that can be overlaid on one another. Raster layers contain raster data only. Edit layers can contain vector objects, raster pastes, and text documents.
Layers window
A window that lists all layers on the current page. When you select a layer name or names and click them with the right mouse button, you get a menu of commands that you can apply to that layer or layers.
Dimension lines with text at one end and an arrowhead at the other. They have no extension lines and can be angled.
Line Width window
Floating window used to select the line or frame width for the active tool. As you move the red line in the Line Width window, the current value (in the selected units) appears in the title bar.
magnify
See zoom in.
MAPI
Message Application Programming Interface. Enables you to send email from within a Windows application.
mark
A text formatting characteristic used to indicate a tracked change. For example, None, Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikeout.
markup
Markup objects are the text and graphics added to a document to communicate information about that document.
Markup toolbar
The bar that contains the Tool and Group buttons.
MER
Minimum enclosing rectangle, the spatial limits of each object drawn or placed in Imagenation. The MER becomes visible as dashed lines when you select objects.
merging layers
See rasterize.
monochrome
An image or screen having only background and foreground colors. Same as black-and-white or bilevel.
multilayer page
Document file made up of one page containing two or more layers. Multiple layer page.
Document file made up of more than one page. Multiple page document.
Image in which a pixel value of 0 represents the image data, and a pixel value of 1 represents the background. Negative images often appear black when reduced because the 0 bits are discarded for display. Text and vector files are not made up of pixels and so cannot be negative.
|
Negative on |
Negative off |
Irrelevant specks or marks added to images in the scanning or redlining process.
Base elements that make up edit layers. They can include arcs, circles, boxes, lines, text, annotations, cuts, erases, and pastes. You place and modify objects on the active edit layer.
OCR
Optical character recognition. Software that translates bitmapped scans or faxes of printed alphanumeric characters into ASCII or formatted text.
ODMA
Open document management API--interaction between a document management system and client programs. Note that ODMA is not supported in Imagenation for UNIX.
OLE
A communication protocol used to link Windows-based programs. When you embed or link objects, your document can contain information that was created in different programs, and you can edit any of this from inside your document.
opaque
Of solid color; not translucent or transparent. Opaque is an option for some object attributes.
Windows, UNIX, and Mac OS X are three different operating systems.
optimize
To write or modify a program to achieve maximum efficiency in a specific area, such as memory allocation.
Used to change attributes for the active document or layer in the current session only. See preferences.
Office-View-Annotate edition of Imagenation, which allows for viewing and limited annotation of text documents and raster images.
Layers on a page that are placed on top of the base layer. That is, all layers on a page except the one at the bottom.
page
A page refers to one or more stacked layers. However, a single layer is normally only referred to as a "page" when it appears in a window with other pages, or when it is saved as a Spicer Multilayer Page (.clf) or Spicer Document (.smf).
paper sizes
|
U.S. |
Europe and Japan |
|
A = 8½ x 11 in. |
A0 = 84.1 x 118.9 cm |
|
B = 11 x 17 in. |
A1 = 59.4 x 84.1 cm |
|
C = 17 x 22 in. |
A2 = 42.0 x 59.4 cm |
|
D = 22 x 34 in. |
A3 = 29.7 x 42.0 cm |
|
E = 34 x 44 in. |
A4 = 21 x 29.7 cm |
A component of a 3D model usually comprised of multiple faces. See face.
pixel
The smallest element of a raster image--one dot. Abbreviation (more or less) of picture element.
points
A typeset measurement equal to 1/72nd of an inch. Points are typically used to measure text.
polylines
Vector objects in the shape of joined, straight lines. You draw them with the Polyline tool by defining all the line end points.
PostScript
A device-independent file format that allows you to save printer-ready documents as files, rather then send them to the printer.
Generally used to change attributes for future documents or layers, in the current and future sessions. See defaults, options.
preview image
A reduced-resolution view of a drawing that can be loaded and displayed before the main image is, to decrease load time.
properties
The characteristics of a file, such as its file name, label, size, and type.
A data type consisting of dots (also known as pixels) that are turned on or off--in bilevel rasters--or are assigned a shade of gray or a color. The dots are stacked into lines known as scan lines, which are themselves stacked to form the image. Created by scanning paper documents, or in graphics programs.
To convert one or more layers on a page into a new, single raster layer. Compare consolidating layers.
raster layer
Layer containing a raster image. It cannot contain vector objects or text documents.
redline
To append comments to a document and to make alterations with objects--circle something, strikethrough, underline, and so on. Traditionally done with a red pen.
reduce
See zoom out.
Reference window
A small window that shows the entire current page, and indicates (with the crossed box) which part of the page appears in the active document window. Can be used to magnify and reduce the page, and to scroll around it.
Reset
In Preference dialog boxes, to restore the values last saved; in other dialog boxes, to select again.
resize
Change the size of; shrink or enlarge.
Drawing pixels (or dots) per unit of image in the horizontal and vertical directions. Determines the fineness or coarseness of the image and affects the size of the file.
RGB
Red-green-blue, the components of color in raster pixels and vector objects. See color raster.
Rubout
Freehand eraser tool. The "erase" is created by drawing on the active edit layer in the background color, which hides (but does not remove) the underlying layers.
rubout over text: 
sampling
Displaying only a sample of image pixels, and discarding the others. This is a view option used to clarify dense bilevel images and to load them faster.
|
Sampling off |
Sampling on |
scale factor
Ratio of screen pixels to image pixels. For example, a scale factor of 0.2 (1:5) indicates 1 screen pixel for 5 image pixels, and a scale factor of 2 (2:1) indicates 2 screen pixels for 1 image pixel.
scrolling
Moving the image around the window to see different parts of it, without scaling the image.
To mark an item so that an action can be carried out on it. You usually select an item by clicking it or by pressing a key. With vector objects in Imagenation, however, you must activate the Select command, and then click the object. After selecting an item, you choose the action that you want to affect it (such as OK or Move).
session
The period of time in which the program is running.
segment
A segment is a finite section of the 3D model displayed in the active window.
set
A grouping of any combination of other sets, multipages, pages, rasters, vectors, and text documents. When opened with the Open as Multipage check box cleared, each file in a set appears in its own window.
Keyboard combinations that allow you to choose commands without using the mouse or the access keys.
A control that lets you set a value on a continuous range of possible values.
speckle
A collection of extraneous black pixels on a raster image.
Spicer 3D format (.s3d)
A file that contains all of the image data for 3D files. Spicer-defined format.
Spicer Document (.smf)
A file that can contain all of the image data for any number of pages. When opened, Spicer Documents are displayed in one window. Spicer-defined format.
Spicer Multilayer Page (.clf)
Component list file, a single-page document file composed of a list of layers. When you open a Spicer Multilayer Page, the layers are gathered in order and displayed in the document window, one on top of the other. Spicer-defined format.
Spicer Multipage (.das)
A collection of two or more single layers, multilayer pages, and other multipage documents. Made up of a list of file names starting with the first page file followed by each consecutive page file. Spicer-defined format.
Spicer Vector (.edt)
Files in the Spicer-defined vector format. They usually have an .edt (for "edit") extension.
A text string that can be placed "under" or "on top of" an image. The stamp appears within image boundaries. It can just be displayed or it can be stamped onto prints, faxes, or rasterized images. Compare banner.
Status Bar
Information provided at the bottom of the main window.
strikeout
Text with a line drawn through it. Strikeout. Sometimes called "strikethrough."
A hierarchical or child menu.
subordinate layers
See CAD layers.
SVE
Scan-View-Edit edition of Imagenation for Windows, which provides large-document scanning, raster improvement functions, edit tools, and some viewing functions.
Vector objects saved as an individual file. You can select symbols in the Symbols palette and place them on an active edit layer using the Symbol tool.
tab
Part of a tabbed dialog box that you click to view different categories. In text documents, a predefined text indent.
A document file that contains text and (sometimes) formatting information. Created with word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, OCR, and text editor programs.
A program, such as Notepad, used to create and edit basic text documents. Usually works in pure ASCII, with little or no formatting or layout features.
Thumbnails window
A window that shows a preview of each page of a multipage document, and indicates (with a highlighted box) which page appears in the active document window.
Files in which the image is saved in several small pieces, called "tiles," that are stored and decompressed individually.
tiled windows
Document windows that are fully displayed in columns and rows. If the number of windows is even, each takes up an equal portion of the screen.
tiling in strips
Displaying document windows in horizontal bands that do not overlap, keeping all windows visible.
ToolTip
Explanation that appears when you place the pointer on a button.
transformations
The rotation, movement, or scaling of a part or parts of a 3D model. See part.
Semi-transparent, or see-through color. Translucent is an option for some object attributes. Objects drawn with the Highlighter and Highlight Area tools are also translucent.
TrueType fonts
Fonts that are standard to Windows. They can be sized to any height and print exactly as they appear on-screen.
Times New Roman
Arial
Courier New
Abbreviation for 1/20th of a point, a "point" being a typeset measurement equal to 1/72nd of an inch. (Therefore, 1 twip equals 1/1440th of an inch.) Generally used to measure text.
Undo list
List of canceled actions on the edit layer. Used by the Edit, Undo command to restore previous versions of a document if you make a mistake.
V
View edition of Imagenation, which provides all viewing functions, but no markup or edit ones.
Images that are defined mathematically and displayed graphically. Used in CAD and engineering software for precise, mathematically editable designs. In this product they are displayed on edit layers.
The start or end point of an edge. See edge.
VM
View-Markup edition of Imagenation, which provides all the viewing functions and markup tools, but no raster improvement functions.
VME
View-Markup-Edit edition of Imagenation, which provides all the Imagenation functions (including scanning, in the SVME edition for Windows).
VR
View-Redline edition of Imagenation, which provides a limited number of viewing functions and markup tools.
white point
Representation of the color white within a device's color range.
wireframe
A closed object with no fill pattern. Used to describe boxes, polygons, circles, and ellipses with a transparent fill.
Work List
The Work List contains a list of the documents that were opened during the current session. You can save these documents as a set. Only available in custom versions of Imagenation.
Enlarge the display size of the image so that can you see part of it in more detail. Also called magnify.
Reduce the display size of a page so that you can see more of it. As a result, the image looks smaller and less detailed. Also called reduce.