SIF: Standard Image Format. An MPEG-1 format specifying a
resolution of 352 x 288 under PAL and 352 x 240 under NTSC.
MPEG, QSIF
Single frame: A single frame is part of a series or sequence.
When this series is viewed at sufficient speed, the illusion of a
“moving picture” is created.
Software codec: Compression method that can create and play back
compressed digital video sequences without special hardware. The
quality of the sequences depends on the performance of the complete
system. Codec, Hardware codec
Still video: Still images (or “freeze-frames”) extracted from video.
S-VHS: Improved version of VHS using S-Video and metal particle
tape to deliver higher luminance resolution, resulting in sharper
pictures than VHS. VHS, S-Video
S-Video: With S-Video (Y/C) signals, the brightness (luminance or
“Y”) and the color (chrominance or “C”) information are transferred
separately using multiple wires, avoiding modulating and
demodulating the video and the resulting loss of picture quality.
Timecode: Timecode identifies the position of each frame in a video
sequence with respect to a starting point (normally the beginning of
the shot). The usual format is H:M:S:F (hours, minutes, seconds,
frames), e.g. “01:22:13:21”. Unlike a tape counter (which can be
“zeroed” or reset at any point in a tape), timecode is an electronic
signal written onto videotape, and is permanent once it is assigned.
Transition: A bridging effect between adjacent video or audio clips,
ranging from a simple “cut” to a showy animated effect. Common
transitions like cuts, fades, dissolves, wipes, slides and audio cross-
fades are part of the language of film and video. They can convey
passages of time and changes of viewpoint concisely – and often
subliminally.
TrueColor: The name indicates an image with enough color
resolution to appear “true to life”. In practice, TrueColor normally
refers to 24-bit RGB color, which allows about 16.7 million
combinations of the red, green and blue primary colors. Bit,
HiColor
