Tech Terms Spring 2010

Gillette Chapter Terms
chapters 1&2
followspot: a lighting instrument with a high intensity, narrow beam; mounted in a stand that allows it to tilt and swivel so the beam can "follow" an actor.
production team: everyone working, in any capacity, on the production of the play.
production design team: the producer, director and scenic, costume, lighting, sound and other designers who develop the visual and aural concept for the production.
Production concept: the creative interpretation of the script, which will unify the artistic vision of producer, director, and designers.
Production meeting: a conference of appropriate production personnel to share information.
Supernumerary: an actor, normally not called for in the script, used in a production; an extra; a walk on.
Technical rehearsals: run-throughs in which the sets, lights, props, and sound are introduced into the action of the play.
Blocking: movement patterns, usually of actors, on the stage.
Shift rehearsal: a run-through without actors to practice changing the scenery and props.
Cue: a directive for action, for example, a change in the lighting.
Lighting rehearsal: a run-through without the actors to look at the intensity, timing, and placement of the various lighting cues.
Dress rehearsal: a run-through in which the actors wear costumes and makeup.
Limited run: a production run of predetermined length, for example, two weeks, six weeks, and so forth.
Prompt book: a copy of the script with details about each actor’s blocking as well as the location of all sets, props, lights, and sound cues.
Stage business: a specific action, also known as a “bit” performed by an actor during the play.
Call: to tell specific crew members when to perform their cues.
Properties: such elements as furniture, lamps, pictures, table linens, bric-a-brac, and window drapes that provide the finished set with visual character.
Running: controlling or operating some aspect of production.
Plate: a sheet of mechanical drawings, drawn to scale.
Shift: to change the position of the scenery, props, or stage equipment.
Hanging: placing lighting instruments and equipment in the designated positions on the light plot.
Focusing: directing light from the lighting instruments to a specific area.
Circuit: to connect a lighting instrument to stage a circuit.
Patch: to connect a stage circuit to a dimmer circuit.
Hookup sheet: a sheet containing pertinent information (hanging position, circuit, dimmer, color, lamp wattage, focusing notes) about every lighting instrument used in the production. Also known as a instrument schedule.
Color media: the colored plastic, gel, or glass filters used in lighting instruments.
Focus: to direct light from a lighting instrument to a specific location.
Warp and weft: the vertical and horizontal threads in a fabric.
Dress: in this context, dress refers to the process of curling, combing, teasing, and/or brushing necessary to maintain the style of a wig or hairpiece.
Street makeup: makeup worn in everyday life.
Sound-reinforcement system: the amplification of sound coming from the stage.
Wireless microphone: a microphone system that uses a short-range FM radio transmitter and receiver instead of a cable to send the signal from the microphone to the mixer.
Stream-of-consciousness questioning: asking whatever relevant questions pop into your mind in the course of a discussion.
PDA – personal digital assistant: a hand-held computer used for making/keeping notes, schedules, phone numbers, and similar functions.
Thumbnail sketch: a small, quick, rough drawing, usually done in pencil, that shows the major outline, characters and feeling of the object but does not have much detail.
Functional model: a three-dimensional thumbnail sketch of the scenic design; normally built on a scale of ¼ or ½ inch to 1 foot; usually made from illustration board, Bristol board file folders or similar card board; also known as a white model.
Production model: a scale model, similar to the functional model but fully painted and complete with all furniture and decorative props.
Sound plot: a list describing each sound cue in the production.

The design model: a problem solving model for theatrical design and production consists of seven distinct phases: 1. Commitment, 2. Analysis, 3. Research, 4. Incubation, 5. Selection, 6. Implementation, 7. Evaluation.

Chapters 3 & 4 Terms
Proscenium: a stage configuration in which the spectators watch the action through a rectangular opening (the proscenium arch) that resembles a picture frame.
Thrust stage: a stage projecting into, and surrounded on three sides by, the audience.
Arena stage: a stage completely surrounded by the audience.
Forced perspective: a visual-distortion technique that increases the apparent depth of an object.
Raked stage: a stage floor that is higher at the back than the front.
Stock set: scenery designed to visually support a generalized location (garden, city street, palace, interior) rather than a specific one; commonly used from the Renaissance through the early twentieth century and still in use today in some theatres.
Drop: a large expanse of cloth, usually muslin or canvas, on which something (a landscape, sky, street, room) is painted.
Wings: in scenic terms, either tall, cloth-covered frames or narrow, unframed drops placed on either side of the stage, parallel with the proscenium arch, to prevent the audience from seeing backstage; were usually painted to match the scene on the upstage drop.
Apron: the flat extension of the stage floor that projects from the proscenium arch toward the audience.
Borders: wide, short, framed or unframed cloth drops suspended to prevent the audience from seeing above the stage; normally match the decorative treatment of the wings and drops in wing and drop sets.
Elevator trap: a small elevator used to shift small pieces of scenery, or an actor, from the basement underneath the stage to the stage or vice versa. Usually no larger than 4x4 or 4x6 feet. Also known as a disappearance trap.
Elevator stage: a large elevator used to shift large scenic elements or whole sets between the area beneath the stage and the stage.
Revolving stage: a large, circular disk that pivots on its central axis. Built into the stage floor as part of the theatre’s permanent equipment.
Concentric revolving stages: a revolving stage with, usually, two sections, one rotating inside the other.
Borderlights: any lights hung above the stage, behind the borders (horizontal masking pieces). In this context, the borderlights were striplights – long, narrow, troughlike fixtures usually containing eight to twelve individual lamps.
Winglights: lights hung on either side of the stage, usually concealed by wings (vertical masking pieces). In this context the winglights were striplights – long, narrow, troughlike fixtures usually containing eight to twelve individual lamps.
Picture frame stage: a configuration in which the spectators watch the action of the play through a rectangular opening; synonym for proscenium-arch stage.
Orchestra pit: the space between the stage and the auditorium, usually below stage level, that holds the orchestra.
Mike: to place one or more microphones in proximity to a sound source (instrument, voice).
Mix: to blend the electronic signals created by several sound sources.
Balance: to adjust the loudness levels of individual signals while mixing, to achieve an appropriate blend.
Sound mixer: an electronic device used to adjust the loudness and tone levels of several sources, such as microphones and recorded sources (computer files/tape playback equipment).
Fly loft: the area directly over the stage; “the flies”
Grid: a network of steel I beams supporting elements of the system used to raise and lower scenery.
Fly: to raise an object or person above the stage floor with ropes or cables.
Batten: a think wooden dowel or metal pipe (generally from 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches in diameter) from which are suspended scenery and lighting instruments.
Loft blocks: a grooved pulley, mounted on top of the grid, used to change the direction in which a rope or cable travels.
Stage house: the physical structure enclosing the area above the stage and wings.
Head block: a multisheave block with two or more pulley wheels, used to change the direction of all the ropes or cables that support the batten.
Fly gallery: the elevated walkway where the pin rail is located.
Pin rail: a horizontal pipe or rail studded with belaying pins; the ropes of the rope-set system are wrapped around the belaying pins to hold the batten at a specific height.
Counterweight arbor: a metal cradle that holds the counterbalancing weights used in a counterweight flying system.
Loading platform: a walkway, suspended just below the grid, where counterweights are loaded onto the arbor.
Locking rail: a rail hat holds the rope locks for each counterweight set.
Grand Drape: main curtain, main drape, or grand rag.
Grand Valance: short curtain, used to mask the equipment hanging above the stage.
False Proscenium: makes the rectangle of the viewing space smaller; used for masking.
Mask: to block the audience’s view – generally, of backstage equipment and space.
Travel: to move horizontally relative to the stage floor, as with a drape that opens in the middle and is pulled to the sides.
Flat: a framework, normally made of wood or metal;; frequently covered with fabric or thin plywood, although a variety of other covering materials may be used.
Hard teaser: the horizontal element of the false proscenium; usually hung from a counterweighted batten so that its height can be easily adjusted.
Tormentor: the vertical flats that form the side elements of the false proscenium.
Show portal: a false proscenium that visually supports the style and color palette of a particular production.
Grommet: a circular metal eyelet used to reinforce holes in fabric.
Sky drop: a curtain used to simulate the sky.
Cyclorama: the cyc, used for smaller bits of sky.
Fly cyc: a single drop, hung on a U-shaped pipe that surrounds the stage on three sides.
Scrim: a drop made from translucent or transparent material.
Lighting grid: a network of pipes form which lighting instruments are hung.
Hanging positions: a location where lighting instruments are placed.
Dead hang: to suspend without means of raising or lowering.
Ratchet winch: a device, used for hoisting, with a crank attached to a drum; one end of a rope or cable is attached to the drum, the other end to the load; turning the crank moves the load; a ratchet gear prevents the drum from spinning backward.
Chapters 5 & 6 Terms
PRODUCTION STYLE: a manner of producing a play in which all production elements (costumes, scenery, lights, acting) adhere to a common set of artistic/philosophical characteristics (i.e. expressionism)

VALUE: relative lightness or darkness

GOBO: a thin metal template inserted into an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight to project a shadow pattern of light

PROFILE (silhouette): the outline of a form, which determines the form’s quality and character

SYMMETRICAL BALANCE: correspondence in size, form, and relative position of parts on either side of a center dividing line; mirror-image balance

ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE: a sense of equipoise achieved through dynamic tension created by the juxtaposition of dissimilar design elements (line, form, mass, value, color)

ACTING AREA: those areas of the stage on which specific scenes, or parts of scenes, are played

PAINT CHIP: a small rectangle of paper or thin cardboard painted in a specific hue

HUE: the quality that differentiates 1 color from another, such as blue from green or red from yellow

SATURATION: aka Chroma, refers to the amount, or percentage, of a particular hue in a color mixture. Fire-engine has a high, or strong, saturation, because there is a lot of fully saturated color in the mixture. Dusty rose, in contrast, has a low, or weak, saturation, because there isn’t a lot of fully saturation color in the mixture; instead, the majority is white or gray

VALUE: the relative lightness or darkness of a color is referred to as a value. Pale blue has a high value, and dark brown has a low value

TINT: a color with a high value is referred to as a tint. It is usually achieved by mixing a hue with either white pigment or white light

SHADE: a color with a low value is known as a shade. It is usually created by a mixture of 1 or more hues and black

TONE: a color of middle value is frequently referred to as a tone. It is a mixture of a hue with black AND white. The addition of a complementary hue tones a color.

COMPLEMENTARY: 2 hues that, when combined, yield white in light or black in pigment; colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel

RODS: nerve cells in the retina that are sensitive to faint light

CONES: nerve cells in the retina that are sensitive to bright light; they respond to red, or to blue, or to green light

PIGMENT: a material that imparts color to a paint or dye

NEUTRALIZATION: subtractive color mixing; the selective absorption of light as the result of mixing complementary pigment hues; the creation of gray

Chapters 7 & 8 Terms

DRAW TO UNDERSTAND: to produce a likeness that is a proportional reduction of an object
SPECIFICATIONS: clarifying notes that explain the building materials, textures, or special effects to be used in a design or other project
BLUELINE: to copy drawings made on tracing vellum; the lines on the vellum are printed in blue, or sometimes, in black; also known as the diazo process
PIG: a bag of loosely woven fabric containing powdered eraser material
PLOTTER: a printer used to produce computer-generated drafting sheets and drawings on large paper
CUT LIST: a list of color media required for the lighting design for a particular production categorized by hue and size; used to assist in ordering and cutting the color media for a lighting design
HORIZONTAL AFFECT SECTION: a section of drawing with a horizontal cutting plane, which does not remain fixed but varies to provide a view if important details
FORSHORTENING: representing the lines of an object as shorter than they actually are in order to give the illusion of proper relative size

VANISHING POINT: the point on the horizon to which a set of parallel lines recedes

HORIZON LINE: a line in a perspective drawing representing the meeting of the earth and the sky; normally drawn parallel to the top or bottom edge of the paper

FLOOR LINE: the base of the vertical plane in a perspective drawing; for a proscenium sketch, usually drawn across the stage in contact with the downstage edge of the proscenium arch; in a thrust drawing, normally placed just outside the auditorium end of the thrust; in an arena sketch, usually placed in the aisle closest to the observer

LINE OF VISION: the vertical line drawn from OP to the floor line in a perspective grid; represents the line of sight from the observer to the vertical plane

PERSPECTIVE-VIEW BASE LINE: the bottom edge of a perspective drawing

Chapters 9 & 10 Terms

MOOD: the feeling of a play- comic, tragic, happy, and so forth

SPIRIT: the manner and style in which a play is presented to the audience

MECHANICAL PERSPECTIVE: a drafting technique that provides an illusion of depth

SIGHT LINE: a sighting extending from any seat in the house to any position on stage; used to determine how much of the stage and backstage area will be visible from that auditorium seat

COLLAGE: a picture made of various materials (e.g. paper, cloth) glued on a surface; can include drawn or photographic images as well

PHOTOMONTAGE: a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures; can include non-photographic images as well

TRACING PAPER: translucent paper used for drafting

CARD STOCK: a thin cardboard, similar in thickness to 3x5 note cards and/or file folders

BACKING: flats, drops, or draperies on the offstage side of doors and similar openings to prevent the audience from seeing backstage

GROUND ROW: low, horizontal flats used to mask the bas of cycs or drops; frequently painted to resemble rows of buildings, hedges, or similar visual elements

CENTER-LINE SECTION: a sectional drawing whose cutting plane is the center line of the stage and auditorium, showing the height of the various elements of the theatre; usually drawn in the same scale as the ground plan

SIGHT-LINE DRAWINGS: a scale drawing (plan and section views) or sighting that extend from the extreme seats (usually the outside seats on the front and last rows of the auditorium) to any position on the stage; used to determine how much of the stage and backstage will be visible from specific auditorium seats.

STARTER HOLE: a small hole bored into a piece of wood or metal to hold the tip of a screw or drill bit; also called a pilot hole

KERF: the width of the cut made by a saw

MITER: an angle that is cut in a piece of work, usually in pairs to form a corner

SOLE: the bottom plate of a plane with a slot through which the tip of the blade projects

CENTER PUNCH: a pointed tool made from a similar type of hard steel as the cold chisel and used for indenting shallow holes in wood and metal

CHUCK: the adjustable jawed clamp at the end of a drill that holds the drill bits

DADO HEAD: a saw accessory consisting of a set of toothed blades that sandwich a chisel-like chipper; the blades smooth-cut the outside edges of the kerf while the chipper gouges out the wood between the blades; the distance between the blades is variable

MOLDING CUTTER HEAD: a heavy cylindrical arbor in which a variety of matched cutter blades or knives can be fit

STRIKE: taking down and/or destruction of the set following the conclusion of a play’s production run

FLUX: a chemical that reduces surface oxidation, which would prevent the solder or filler rod (welding) and the metal being soldered or welded from flowing together

LAUAN: also known as Philippine mahogany; this 1/8” lauan plywood is strong and quite flexible; commonly used as a flat-covering material and for covering curved surface forms

PAPER CLAD: both sides covered with paper

PLUG: a wooden insert used to replace a knothole or other imperfection in the surface layer of a sheet of plywood

KEYSTONES and CORNERBLOCKS: pieces of ¼” AD plywood used to reinforce joints in the construction of stage flats

SCALE: a black scaly coat that forms on iron when it is heated for processing

1” CENTERS: the centers of adjacent elements, such as holes, are spaced 1” apart

CASTING RESIN: any of a number of liquid plastics used for casting forms in molds

SKID: a low profile substitute for a wagon; usually a piece of ¾” plywood on which some small scenic element is placed

ALLEN WRENCH: an L-shaped piece of steel rod with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape; used for working with Allen-head screws and bolts

FLUSH: smooth, level, even

DUTCHMAN: a 5-6” wide strip of cloth of the same material as the flat covering; applied over joints between flats to give the appearance of a smooth, unbroken wall unit

LEAF: the movable flap of a hinge

STILE: a vertical side member of a flat

DOWEL: a short cylinder of hardwood (usually birch)

DUST MASK: a device covering the nose and mouth that filters particulate matter from the air

RESPIRATOR: a mask covering the nose and mouth that filters out gases as well as particulate matter

Chapters 11 & 12 Terms

TECHNICAL PRODUCTION: all organizational and procedural aspects of the construction, painting, and operation of scenery and properties

LOAD-IN: the moving of scenery and associated equipment into the theatre and the positioning of them on the stage

IRREGULAR FLAT: a flat having non-square corners

MUNTIN: a horizontal crossbar in a window

MULLION: a vertical crossbar in a window

MORTISE DRILL BIT: a drill bit housed inside of a square hollow chisel; used with a drill press to make square holes; available in a variety of diameters

FILLER ROD: metal piece of the same composition as material being welded, used to replace the metal lost during the welding process or to fill a hole of groove in the work

TWO-HANDED WELDING: a technique in which the torch or welding handle is held in one hand and the filler rod in the other

ARC: an electric current that leaps the gap between two closely placed electrodes

WELDING ROD: a rod, usually covered with flux, that serves as the position electrode in arc welding

SINGLE-HAND WELDING: a technique in which one hand holds the welding handle and the other hand is not used

OXIDATION: a chemical reaction between the metal and air that forms a very thin, discolored “skin” over the metal; this skin effectively prevents heat transfer and reduces the strength and conductivity of the joint

SOLDER: a metal alloy of lead and tin

SHOW CONTROL: the use of computer-controlled, motorized devices to shift scenery, almost always in view of the audience

RAIL: a top or bottom framing member of a flat

STILE: a vertical side member of a flat

TOGGLE BAR: an interior horizontal framing member of a flat

CORNER BRACE: a diagonal internal framing member that keeps a flat square

JOG: a flat less than 2 feet wide

18-INCH CENTERS: spaced 18” apart

SPACKLING: a paste used to fill small holes in walls

CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE: also called panel adhesive, an adhesive contained in a caulking tube; dispensed with a caulking gun; available in a number of formulations for use in gluing wall panels to studs (wood to wood) Styrofoam to wood, wood to metal, and so forth

DRYWALL: gypsum board typically used to cover interior walls in home construction; normally ½” thick although other thicknesses are available

SLL IRON: a strap of mild steel attached to the bottom of a door flat to brace it where the rail has been cut out

SWEEP: a wooden curvilinear form, generally used to outline an arch or irregular form in door-and-window- flat openings

PRIME COAT: the first coat of paint applied to the flats, to develop a relatively uniform color and surface to the wall units

STIFFENING BATTEN: a length of 1x3 attached to a multi-flat wall unit to keep it from wiggling

BOOK: to fold hinged flats together (so that they resemble a book)

TUMBLER: a ¾” thick-by- 1” wide (or 1x3) piece of stock used as a spacer when 3 or more flats are going to be booked

HEADER: a small flat that can be placed between 2 standard sized flats to create a doorway or window

BOOK CEILING: 2 large flats about the same width as the proscenium arch, stored in a booked position in the flies; when needed to create a ceiling, they are opened and lowered onto the walls of the set

JOISTS: parallel beams that support flooring

6-INCH CENTERS: spaced 6” apart from the center of the one item to the center of the next

HONEYCOMB PAPER: a manufactured paper product with a hexagonal structure similar to a honey-comb

LAMINATING: the process of gluing thin pieces of wood together to make a thicker piece

COMPOUND CURVES: a surface that curves in more than one direction (like a ball) or changes the radius of its curve (like a playground slide)

GUSSET: a triangular piece of material used to reinforce a corner joint

PLY-METAL: refers to TEK screws specifically designed to attach plywood to metal; the flat head of the screw is typically driven flush with, or slightly into, the top surface of the plywood

KIT-CUTTING: to cut ALL the individual pieces needed to make something BEFORE assembly is started- like model airplane kit

CARRIAGE: the part of a stair unit that supports the tread and risers

TREAD: the horizontal surface of a stair

RISER: the vertical face of a stair unit

SCORE: to cut partially through

HANDRAIL: the part of the stair railing that is grabbed with the hand; supported by the banister and newel post

BANISTER: the vertical member that supports the handrail of a staircase railing

NEWEL POST: the post at the bottom or top of a flight of stairs that terminates the handrail

DECKING: the covering surface of a structure on which people will walk

SHIM: scrap wood or metal used to raise adjacent parts so that they are level or fit together as designed

STEP MOTOR: an electric motor whose movement consists of discrete angular steps rather than continuous rotation; precision movement is achieved by programming the motor to run, in either direction, for a specific number of steps

PENCIL ADHESIVE: an adhesive product, such as Liquid nails, packaged in a caulking tube and intended to be dispensed with a caulking gun

HOT-WIRE CUTTER: a tool for cutting foam that consists of a wire heated to incandescence

PIGMENT: a material that imparts color to a paint of dye

FILLER: a material that creates opacity (covering power) in paint

VEHICLE: the liquid medium-water, oil, lacquer, and the like-in which pigments, filler, and binders are suspended to create a paint mixture; after the paint is applied the vehicle evaporates

TROMPE L’OEIL: literally “to trick the eye”; an illusion of 3 dimensionality created with paint

FAUX FINISH: using techniques with paints/varnishes to create the illusion of a particular type of surface or material, for example, painting wood to look like metal or stone

SIZE WATER: a mixture of one cup of hot animal glue and one tablespoon of Lysol per gallon of warm water; white clue can be substituted for the animal glue in approximately equal measure

VINYL ACRYLIC CONCENTRATE: a highly saturated pigment with a vinyl acrylic binder; mixed with an opaque base (for tints) or a transparent base (for fully saturated lines) to create a working paint

GLAZE: a transparent, usually lightly tinted layer of thin paint

ANILINE DYE: a transparent pigment made from aniline, a poisonous derivative of benzene; characterized by brilliant hues and full saturation

BLEEDING (SPREADING): capillary action causes the dye solution to spread past the edge of the painted brush line

DISTRESS: to create a worn or aged appearance, as with fabric, wood, or metal

SPATTERING: a technique of applying a relatively smooth covering of evenly spaced small droplets of paint to a surface

BOX: to pour paint back and forth between buckets to ensure a complete and uniform mix

GARBAGE or SLOP PAINT: any paint left over from previous paint jobs; the various hues are mixed together to create a (usually) rather ugly light-brown color

ANALOGOUS (related) COLORS: colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel

HOLIDAYS: sections of a painted surface that appear lighter than the rest of the surface because the area is either unpainted or the paint was too lightly applied; areas where the painter took a holiday

SPRAY CONE: the pattern of paint emitted from the nozzle of a spray gun

SPRAY GUN: a pistol-like device that shoots out a cone of paint

COMPRESSOR: a pump, typically electric or gasoline powered, that drives air into a tank; output pressure from the tank is controlled by a valve called a regulator

KEYSTONING: the distortion that occurs in a projected image when the projector is placed at some angle other than perpendicular to the center of the projection surface

FLOOR PAINTING: painting scenery- flats, drops, and so forth- on the floor rather than standing up or attached to a paint frame

FERRULE: the metal part of a brush that binds the bristles to the handle

SOURCE LIGHT: the apparent source of light that is illuminating a scene or an object

STENCIL PAPER: stiff, water-resistant paper used for making stencils

VACUFORMING: the process of shaping heated plastic, usually high-impact polystyrene, around a mold through the use of vacuum pressure

STENCIL BRUSH: a short, squat brush with a circular pattern of short, stiff bristles; the bristles are pressed onto, rather than stroked across, the work, to prevent the paint from bleeding under the edges of the stencil

BACKPAINTING: literally to paint on the back; you paint the back, or reverse, side of the scenery or drop

POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (PVA): a water-soluble synthetic thickener/adhesive

BOGUS PAPER: a heavy, soft, absorbent paper; similar to blotter paper



Chapters 13 & 22 Terms

STAGE WORTHY: strong enough to withstand the use inflicted on them when used on the stage, for example, sofas/chairs that are stood and/or danced on; tables that break apart during fights and so forth

PROP TABLE: a table, normally located in the wings, on which hand props are stored when not in use onstage

BLACKOUT: when the stage is completely dark. The stage lights are out and no other lights are on

JIG: a device used to hold pieces together in proper positional relationship

SELF-TAPPING: screws that drill their own pilot holes as they are power-screwed into wood or metal. The screws have an auger-like tip that drills a smaller diameter hole than the screw threads

CARCASS: the foundation structure of something, for example, the framework of a cabinet

SPINDLE CHUCK: a device used to hold wood in a lathe

STOCK FURNITURE: item owned by the producing organization and held in storage until they are needed for a production

GIMP: an ornamental flat braid or round cord used at trimming

DRESS: to place decorative props such as curtains, doilies, knickknacks, or magazines on the set to help make the environment look lived-in and provide clues to the personality of the set’s inhabitants

VALANCE: a horizontal element at the top of a drapery arrangement that covers the curtain rod

DRAPE: a vertical element of heavy fabric that frames the sides of a window or archway; can usually be pulled across the opening

SHEER: a thin gauze curtain that hangs across the opening of a window to soften the “sunlight” and obscure the view into a room

PAPERCLAY: a nontoxic modeling material that can be sculpted, molded or shaped, and air dries to a hard finish that can be carved or sanded

MODEL: an object that is being used as the subject of a mold casting

UNDERCUT: an indentation in a form that leaves an overhang or concave profile- for example, the nostrils in a mask of a face

ARMATURE: a basic skeletal form that holds the covering materials in the desired shape or alignment

MATTE: dull, non-reflective

LIFE: brilliance, visual depth, and sparkle

GLOSS: highly reflective, mirror-like

SPINE: the relative stiffness of bristles; good watercolor bristles will flex easily but will also have enough spine to remain erect when fully saturated with paint

ILLUSTRATION BOARD: watercolor paper mounted on a pressboard backing

HOT-PRESS FINISH: a slick, smooth texture achieved by pressing paper between hot rollers; this treatment leaves a thin layer of oil, which makes the paper unsuitable for use with transparent watercolor; works well with designer’s gouache, acrylic, pencils, and markers

COLD-PRESS FINISH: a slight surface texture achieved by pressing paper between cold rollers; no oil residue results, so the paper can be used with transparent watercolor, designer’s gouache, acrylic, pencils, and markers

ROUGH FINISH: a pebble-grained texture achieved by cold pressing paper with a textured roller or by other techniques; suitable for painted and pastel renderings having little intricate detail

TOOTH: a term used to describe the surface texture of a paper

PIXEL: a picture element; the smallest discrete part of an electronically projected picture, as on a computer monitor

DIGITIZING TABLET: a electromechanical device that converts the pressure of a stylus on a flat plate (tablet) into binary information that can be understood by the computer

SCAN: to use a digitizing scanner to convert existing artwork, photos, or drawings into binary information

GRAPHITE: a soft carbon similar to the lead in a pencil; sticks can be purchased in most art supply stores

WASH: the covering of a relatively large area with a smooth layering of paint; a smooth wash consists of only one color; a blended wash is created by smoothly segueing from one color to another

WORKABLE FIXATIVE: a spray that seals colors in place. “Workable” indicates that paint can effectively be applied on top of the fixative