ONLINE GLOSSARY
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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• Bézier Curves. (Pronounced "BEZ-ee-ay") A curved line created by a computer illustration program. The formula for calculating such curves was pioneered by Pierre Bézier, a noted French engineer, scientist, and teacher. These drawing objects are nearly universal to all computer illustration programs, though some applications may refer to them as "paths." CAD programs may use a completely different approach behind the scenes when creating curved lines. See also Splines.
  
  
• Bitmap Image. A digital image created from individual dots called pixels. When an image is scanned, the computer divides it into tiny little regions. The number of regions recorded depends on the resolution of the scan. Both the color and the light/dark value of each region are individually recorded and stored as pixels. These values are then assembled to create a digital image file. Because of the large amount of information being stored, the file size of bitmap images can be quite large. As a result, they can take up a lot of disk space. See also Vector-Based Art.
  
  
• Blueprints. Drawings created to precisely and accurately describe the construction of an object. Presentation plans depict a subject from multiple angles or views. Floor plans and elevations describe buildings and other structures. Design drawings depict objects ranging from furniture and cabinetry to crafts and consumer products. Modelers create plans in order to build their projects. All these drawings are blueprints.
  
  
• Body Plan. A special plan view that consolidates many different cross section outlines into a single view. Naval architects use body plans to describe the complex curves of boat and ship hulls. By consolidating all the cross section outlines together, the result is a clean and compact representation of the cross section for the entire hull. See also Dividing Line.
  
  
• Bored. Drilled partially or all the way through. Example: A hole can be bored through an object, or a hole can be bored in an object.
  
  
• Bulkhead. The dividing line between watertight compartments on a ship, or a transverse frame member inside an aircraft fuselage. On boats and ships, frame stations mark the points along the hull where either a bulkhead or a transverse frame is positioned. On aircraft, frame stations mark the points along the fuselage where bulkheads are positioned. The structural frame is then "skinned"to form the shape of the hull or fuselage.

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0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Click on a letter to browse through the Glossary terms.
To download a printable version of the entire Glossary, click here.

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Reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.