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Photography & Print Glossary Terms
Breaking down that technical terminology
Understanding photography and print terminology can make it easier to choose artwork with confidence, particularly when comparing different print finishes, materials and photographic styles. But what do some of these technical sounding words really mean? This glossary explains them in clear terms. Rather than acting as a technical dictionary, the focus here is on practical explanations that help you in your art buying decision.
A
Acrylic Print
An acrylic print is created by mounting a high-resolution photographic print behind a sheet of clear acrylic glass or Perspex. This process gives the image added depth, colour intensity and a polished contemporary appearance.
At Fotoviva, our acrylic wall art is produced using a 12-colour Giclée print mounted behind 10mm acrylic with polished edges and a hidden floating subframe on the back. Acrylic tends to suit modern interiors particularly well and works effectively with dramatic landscapes, black and white photography and images with strong tonal contrast.
Archival Inks
Archival inks are pigment-based inks designed for long-term durability and fade resistance. They are commonly used in professional fine art printing because they retain colour accuracy far longer than standard dye-based inks.
Professional photographic wall art is typically printed using archival pigment inks to help maintain detail, tonal depth and colour stability over many years of display, unlike some of the mass-produced prints that cost less.
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image.
For example:
3:2 is common in DSLR photography
16:9 is often used for panoramic imagery
1:1 refers to square compositions
Aspect ratio affects cropping, framing and print sizing. Some photographs naturally lend themselves to panoramic wall art, while others work more comfortably in traditional rectangular or square formats.
B
Black and White Photography
Black and white photography removes colour to place greater emphasis on light, texture, shape and contrast. Some monochrome images may also contain subtle warm or cool tonal treatments.
Black and white photographic prints are often chosen for quieter interiors, minimalist spaces and rooms where a more restrained visual balance is preferred.
C
Canvas Print
A canvas wall print is produced by printing a photograph directly onto textured canvas material, which is then stretched over a wooden frame and stapled to the back.
At Fotoviva our canvas prints are created using 12-colour Giclée printing on premium canvas and hand-finished over kiln-dried pine stretcher bars that are FSC certified. The lightly textured surface of the canvas softens reflections and gives photography a more natural, understated appearance compared with high-gloss finishes.
Colour Gamut
Colour gamut refers to the range of colours that can be reproduced by a printer, screen or ink system. Professional printers with a wider colour gamut are able to reproduce more subtle tonal transitions and finer colour detail within photographic prints.
Composition
Composition is how visual elements are arranged within a photograph. This includes balance, spacing, framing, perspective and subject placement. Strong composition often determines whether a photograph works successfully as wall art, particularly when enlarged for display within interior spaces.
So for instance, if you took a photo of your friend and half their head was out of frame, that would not be a good composition! Before taking pictures, professional photographers will assess the scene and try a few captures to see which is the best composition.
D
Depth of Field
Depth of field describes how much of a photograph appears in sharp focus.
A shallow depth of field isolates the subject while softly blurring the background (similar to ‘portrait’ mode on an iPhone). A deep depth of field keeps more of the image sharp from foreground to distance.
Shallow depth of field is commonly seen in floral, botanical and macro photography, while landscape photography often uses greater depth of field to retain scene detail throughout the frame.
Dynamic Range
In photographic and printing terms, dynamic range refers to the amount of detail visible between the darkest shadows and brightest highlights within an image.
Photographs with strong dynamic range tend to retain more subtle tonal separation and detail when printed at larger sizes. When doing any post-processing you have to be aware of how your adjustments affect the dynamic range.
E
Edition
An edition refers to the number of times an artwork is reproduced for sale. In photographic wall art this is usually described as either an open edition or limited edition print.
Edition type does not determine print quality on its own. Materials, print processes, paper choice and image quality generally have a far greater impact on the finished artwork.
Enhanced Matte Art Paper
Enhanced Matte Art paper is a type of professional fine art paper commonly used for photographic printing. It has a smooth, non-reflective surface designed to reproduce subtle tonal transitions and fine image detail.
Fotoviva framed are is produced on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Art paper, which works particularly well for prints of landscape photography, black and white prints and softer tonal imagery such as our macro print collection.
F
Fine Art Photography
Fine art photography refers to photographic work created with artistic intent rather than purely documentary or commercial purposes. Attention is often given to composition, light, atmosphere, timing and print presentation.
Unlike mass-produced decorative imagery, fine art photography is typically created to function as finished wall artwork with long-term visual value.
Floating Subframe
A floating subframe is a hidden support structure attached to the rear of an acrylic print. It creates the appearance that the artwork is floating slightly away from the wall once hung.
This mounting method gives acrylic wall art a cleaner presentation without visible front fixings.
Framed Art Print
A framed print combines the photographic artwork, mount, glazing and frame into a finished ready-to-hang piece.
Fotoviva framed prints are printed on 200gsm Enhanced Matte Art paper and supplied framed with Perspex glazing and hanging fixings already attached. Our framed photographic prints tend to work comfortably across both traditional and contemporary interiors because of their versatility and softer presentation style.
G
Gallery Wrap
Gallery wrap refers to a canvas print stretched so the image continues around the edges of the wooden frame.
This creates a cleaner contemporary presentation without requiring an additional outer frame.
Giclée Print
Giclée printing is a professional high-resolution inkjet printing process widely used for fine art and photographic reproduction. It uses archival pigment inks and specialist printers capable of producing highly accurate colour and tonal detail.
The process is commonly associated with gallery-quality photographic wall art because of its clarity, longevity and colour consistency.
H
Hanging System
A hanging system refers to the fixings attached to the back of artwork for attaching to the wall. Depending on the print format, this may include sawtooth hangers, Cobra fixings or hidden floating subframes.
Different hanging methods are chosen according to the size, weight and presentation style of the artwork. Acrylic prints often use hidden subframes which give the impression of the picture floating away from the wall, while framed prints commonly use rear-mounted hanging hardware attached directly to the frame.
L
Landscape Orientation
Landscape orientation means the image is wider than it is tall.
Landscape format artwork is commonly used above sofas, beds, dining tables and other wider wall spaces but of course it depends on how the artist created the picture of which format the photographer shot the photo in. Other options are portrait, square or panoramic.
Long Exposure
Long exposure photography uses slower shutter speeds to record movement over time. Water, clouds or light trails may appear softened or blurred during the extended exposure.
This technique is frequently used in seascape and landscape photography to simplify movement and create calmer tonal transitions within the final print. You can find some great examples of long exposure in our coastal seascape pictures.
M
Matte Finish
A matte finish has little or no surface reflection.
Matte photographic prints reduce glare and are often preferred in brighter rooms or spaces where reflected light from windows may otherwise become distracting.
Monochrome
Monochrome photography uses varying tones of a single colour. While often associated with black and white photography, monochrome images may also include sepia or toned treatments.
Monochrome wall art generally creates a quieter and more restrained visual feel compared with highly saturated colour photography.
Mount
A mount, sometimes called a window mount or mat board, creates spacing between the artwork and the frame.
This additional spacing helps focus attention on the image itself while improving overall visual balance and presentation.
P
Panoramic Print
A panoramic print uses an unusually wide image format compared with traditional photographic proportions.
Panoramic wall art is often suited to larger rooms, hallways and spaces above furniture where a stronger horizontal balance is needed.
Perspex Glazing
Perspex glazing is a lightweight acrylic alternative to traditional glass used within framed prints.
It is commonly used in professional framing because it offers good optical clarity while being lighter and less fragile during transport.
Pigment Inks
Pigment inks contain microscopic solid colour particles suspended within liquid ink.
Pigment-based printing systems are widely used in archival photographic printing because of their durability and long-term colour stability. We use eco-friendly inks, read more on our sustainability page.
Portrait Orientation
Portrait orientation means the image is taller than it is wide.
Portrait-format wall art often works well in narrower wall spaces, staircases and those vertical architectural areas.
R
Resolution
Resolution describes the level of detail contained within a digital image. Higher-resolution image files generally contain more information, allowing photographs to be reproduced more clearly at larger print sizes.
Professional photographic wall art requires sufficient resolution to maintain detail, tonal smoothness and sharpness when enlarged for display. Our photographers provide us with very good quality images with resolution that means we can print high quality at larger sizes.
S
Satin Finish
A satin finish sits between matte and gloss surfaces, offering a subtle sheen without strong reflections.
This type of finish helps maintain image depth while reducing excessive glare. Most people prefer the satin print finish as it gives the best of both worlds.
Sepia Tone
Sepia toning introduces warm brown tones into monochrome photography pictures.
Sepia treatments are sometimes used to give photographic prints a softer or more timeless visual character. These days it is added in post-processing using software such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
T
Triptych
A triptych is a style of presentation where one picture is divided across three separate panels or frames.
This format is often used across larger walls where a single oversized artwork may feel visually heavy. It’s also referred to as ‘split panel art’ or ‘3 part canvas’. It is pronounced ‘trip-tick’ and originates from the principle of the ‘Rule of Three’ in Art and Design which basically states that objects arranged in threes are more visually appealing.
U
UV Resistance
UV resistance refers to how well a print or material withstands fading and deterioration caused by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Archival pigment inks, professional print materials and acrylic face mounting all help improve the long-term durability of photographic wall art when displayed under normal interior conditions.
All our prints offer a good level of UV resistance but we’d always recommend keeping your wall prints out of sustained and direct sunlight to ensure your artwork remains in perfect condition for years to come.
Common Misconceptions
“Giclée” is not a paper type
Giclée refers to the printing process itself rather than the material the image is printed on.
Monochrome does not always mean pure black and white
Monochrome imagery may include warm sepia tones, cool blue tones or other single-colour treatments.
Canvas prints are not painted by hand
Canvas wall art uses high-resolution printing technology rather than hand painting, although textured surfaces can sometimes create a similar visual softness.
Limited edition does not automatically mean higher quality
Print quality is influenced more by the original photograph, printing process, inks and materials than by edition size alone.
Now that you’ve made it all this way (and of course read all of the above!), head over to our hub page to browse the print collection of your choice…