Technology / Television (TV) Glossary

Key Light: In the three-point lighting system, the main source of illumination and the most intense light on the set. It is normally positioned above the actor's head, and several feet in front of him or her.

Keyframe: In animation, the essential frames used to construct a character's movement. If the animation is computer aided, the animator designs the keyframes and the computer automatically generates t . . . View Full Definition

Keying: An special effects process, specific to video, in which an image or text is inserted into another image. See chroma key.

Kinescope: A film copy of a television program: made by aiming the film camera at a television screen. Used during the early years of television (before videotape) to record programs that were broadcast live.

Ku-Band: Signal frequency range between 11 and 14 ghz: it is often used by communications satellites.

L-Band: An L-Band is the frequency range from 0.5 to 1.5 ghz. All satellite TV systems use this frequency (950 to 1450 mhz) to carry the satellite signal from the dish to the receiver.

Laugh Track: A soundtrack of pre-recorded laughter, usually added in the post-production process to a comedy program with no studio audience.

Lavaliere Microphone: A small microphone often clipped to a performer's tie or shirt.

Lead: In news stories, the reporter's opening comments--designed to capture viewer attention.

Lead-In: A program that immediately precedes another program on the same station or network.

Lead-Out: A program that immediately follows another program.

Letterbox: A process by which a widescreen film is presented on video. The top and bottom of the video frame is blackened, and the widescreen film frame is reduced to fit into this frame-within-the-vid . . . View Full Definition

Letterbox Mode: A method of presenting widescreen images on a standard screen television. In order to preserve the aspect ratio of the original video content, the picture is scaled down so that it fits the . . . View Full Definition

Lighting Color: Light may be 'colored' by placing a filter or gelatin in front of a light source.

Lighting Diffusion: The hardness or softness of a light source. Hard light casts a sharp, definite shadow.

Lighting Direction: The positioning of lights relative to the object being shot. The norm for lighting direction is three-point lighting.

Lighting Intensity: The power of a light source. Regarding the relative intensity of lighting sources, see three-point lighting.

Limited Effects Theory: A type of communication theory (e.g., social learning theory, vicarious catharsis theory) that regards media as having conditional influences on the viewer: due to intervening variables, the . . . View Full Definition

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