Photography glossary - M
Mac - Abbreviated name of the Apple Macintosh computer.
Mac OS - The Apple Macintosh computer operating system.
Mackie line is an effect sometime found on a negative or print, in
which a light line forms along the boundaries of the darkest image
areas. It may also be caused during processing by the diffusion of
exhausted developer, lack of agitation, or by solarization.
Macro The ability of a lens to focus very close (less than 8") for taking pictures of small objects at a 1:1 ratio.
smart object pipeline by Ted Dillard
Macro attachment are supplementary elements attached to the
front of a normal lens to give an extreme close-up facility.
Macro converter see Macro attachement
Macro lens is a lens specially designed to give accurate
resolution of a very near subject without the need for
supplementary attachments. Sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as
a micro lens.
Macrophotography is photography which produces an image
larger than the original subject size without the use of a
microscope.
Magazine(film) is a light-tight container holding roll film.
Magenta is the complimentary color to green. It is composed of
blue and red light.
Magnification is the size of the image relative to the size of the
subject used to produce it. It is an expression of the ratio of the
subject-lens distance to the image-lens distance. When object
distance = image distance, magnification = 1.
Magnification ratio see Magnification.
Main light see Key light.
Mailbox - Or Electronic Mailbox. Either an answering machine or a computer service that enables the user to leave voice announcements, text messages, digital images or any other type of file. Ordinarily, mailboxes are accessed via telephone lines through the use of a modem.
Mask is an opaque material used to cover the edges of the
printing paper, and thus produce borders when the paper is
exposed to light.
Masking is a system of controlling negative density ranges or color saturation through the use of unsharp masks.
Masking frame is an adjustable frame used to hold printing paper
in position under the enlarger, also referred to as an enlarging
easel.
Mastic varnish is varnish used for negatives.
Matte- See Mat
Mat is an alternative term used for matte. Also describes the
cardboard surround in a picture frame.
Matte field is a granular textured surface that disperses light in
order to form a clear image. Used in the viewfinder optical system.
Matrix is a relief image, usually made from gelatin and used for
processes such as dye transfer printing.
Matrix Array CCD''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s that can capture full-color images instantaneously.
Matrix Metering A metering method which uses the entire image; however, it breaks the area down into smaller segments and uses the individual readings to calculate the best possible exposure. Matrix-metering is the most accurate of the metering systems.
Matte is a term used to describe a non reflective, non-textured
surface.
Matte box is a mask used to make images suitable for wide-
screen projection.
MiniDisc (MD) Digital recording media like a small floppy disc.
MB - Megabyte
Megabyte 1 MB = 1,024 →kilobytes.
Megapixel (MP) Having a resolution of one million pixels.
Megapixel digital camera
Digital camera equipped with a CCD that can record images with over 1,000,000 pixels.
Memory Stick
A memory medium developed by Sony.
Meniscus lens is a simple lens consisting of a single piece off
glass, thicker at the center than at the edges. It has one concave
and one convex face.
Mercuric chloride is a chemical used in certain types of
intensifiers.
Mercury vapor lamp is an artificial light source produced by
passing current through mercury vapor in a tube.
Metadata - Metadata is a set of standardized information about a photo, such as the author’s name, resolution, color space, caption, copyright, and keywords applied to it. For example, most digital cameras attach some basic information (exif) about a file, such as height, width, file format, and the time the image was taken. Metadata Includes EXIF and IPTC information
Metadata Template - A template for captioning images
Metal print is a photographic print made on a sensitized metal
surface
Methyl alcohol is a volatile, poisonous spirit commonly known as
wood alcohol. Used as a substitute for pure alcohol in some
photographic processes.
Metol is a reducing agent which is soft working, especially in the
presence of a weak alkali.
Metolquinone is a combination of metol and hydroquinone, used
as a developing agent (MQ developer).
Microfiche is a sheet of microfilm usually forming part of a filing
system.
Microfilm is a film used to produce a microscopic record of a
document and intended for projection.
Microflash is an electronic flash of very short duration used to
illuminate subjects traveling at a very high rate of speed.
•Micro lens is a lens for microscopic photography. Not to be
confused with a Macro lens.
Micron (μ) is one millionth of a meter.
Microphotograph is a photograph produced to a very small size
which can be viewed with a microfilm reader.
Microprismcollar is a grid type ring found in the center of a
camera focusing screen, usually surrounding a split image screen.
Midtone is an area in a print or scene that contains average
values.
Millimicron (mμ) is one thousandth part of a micron.
Miniature camera is a term commonly applied to cameras with a
format size of less than 35mm.
MiniCards - Small memory cards.
Mired is an abbreviation for the term micro reciprocal degrees, a
scale of measurement of color temperature. The mired value of a
light source is calculated by dividing 1,000,000 by its color
temperature in Kelvins.
Mirror box is a box containing one or more mirrors, usually
angled to the light beam, as in the main body of an SLR camera.
Mirror lens is a lens system which uses mirrors within its internal
construction. Most lenses of this type have a mixture of reflecting
and refracting optics and are known as catadioptric lenses.
Micro- processor - The programmable chip controlling the computer. It is composed of either one or more integrated circuits.
Microfiche is a sheet of microfilm usually forming part of a filing
system.
Mode is the prime operating function of SLR cameras, e.g.
manual mode, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, etc.
Modeling light is a light used to create a three dimensional effect
achieved through the perception of form and depth.
Modelscope is a device employing a short rigid endoscope fitted
with a right angle mirror at its tip, used to photograph scale models
from a seemingly eye-level viewpoint
Model release. Written permission to use a person''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s photo in publications or for commercial us.
Modem - Word derived from Modulation and Demodulation. A device which transforms digital data into analog signals in order to send the information through a telephone line.
MO Disk - Abbreviation for Magneto-Optical Disk. An MO Disk can be rewritten as often as desired and features high storage capa- city (up to 1.3 GB in 3.5’’ format) and data security.
MO Drive - Device used for the reading of information from, and the writing of information to, an MO Disk.
Modular enlarger is an enlarger with interchangeable filtration
heads and illuminations systems.
Monobath is a single solution which combines developer and
fixer for processing b&w negatives. It is a quick simple system but
does not allow for development control.
Monochromatic are light rays of a single wavelength.
Monochrome is single colored. It is most frequently applied to
black and white photographs, but can also describe sepia and
other toned images.
Monopack is an outdated term describing a film carrying system.
Monorail camera is a sheet film camera, of modular construction,
mounted on a rail system to give maximum camera movements.
Montage is a composite picture made from a number of
photographs.
Mordant is a colorless dye absorbing substance used in some
forms of toning. The silver image is converted into a mordant then
soaked in dye.
Moiré - An interference pattern brought about when images of differing resolution are superimposed. (This problem may occur, for example, if small diamond shapes are to be reproduced on a television screen).
Mosaic is a composite made up from a patchwork of partly
overlapping photographs.
Motion JPEG - Some digital cameras can record a fast sequence of images in QuickTime Motion JEPG format.
Motor drive is an automatic film wind-on mechanism which can
be attached to some cameras. While the shutter remains
depressed the film will keep winding on after exposure.
Mottle is a processing fault characterized by random print density
differences.
Mount is a frame and/or backing used to support and protect
prints and transparencies.
MPU - Mathematical Processing Unit. Either an integrated or separate component of a processor, which carries out the mathematical calculations, e.g. for certain image processing tasks.
MMC (MultiMedia Card) A flash memory card used in some digital cameras and MP3 players.
Moiré A visible pattern that occurs when one or more halftone screens are misregistered in a color image.
MOV Apple QuickTime MOVie motion video file format.
MPEG - Motion Picture Expert Group. The abbreviation is used to describe a compression format for digitized video images.
MQ/PQ developers are developing solutions containing the
reducing agents metol and hydroquinone or phenidone and
hydroquinone.
MS-DOS
Microsoft Disc Operating System.
M-synch is a flash setting or socket which synchronizes the firing
of the shutter with the peak light output of a flash bulb.
MTF (Modulation transfer function) A comparison of contrast
between a test chart and the reproduced image. One of the
measurements of lens performance used in the manufacturing
process.
Multi-band photography is a method of aerial photography using
cameras and scanners which are sensitive to different wavelengths
in the spectrum to record different subject characteristics.
Multimode camera is a 35mm camera that will operate in several
modes.
Multiple exposure is the technique of making more than one
exposure on the same film frame, normally so that the images are
superimposed.
Multiple flash is the use of more than one flash unit, usually
operating simultaneously to light a subject.
Multi-image. A type of slideshow that uses more than one projector to create greater visual impact with the subject.
Multimedia. A generic term to describe the use of more than one medium together e.g slideshow,video and sound to create a visual effects.
Multi Spot Focusing An autofocus system using several different portions of the image to determine the proper focus. Multiple Exposure An image made up of two or more superimposed images.
Multi- megapixel An image or image sensor with over two million pixels.
Munsell system is a method of precise color description, based
on comparison with comprehensive hue and saturation charts. Has
closest application to pigments, whereas the CIE system relates
directly to light.
