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
Z-Axis
The depth axis in a 3D space (toward and away from camera); important in blocking, VFX, and camera movement.
Z-Depth
A data pass in visual effects representing distance from the camera; used for depth-of-field, compositing, and 3D integration.
Zebra Stripes
A camera monitoring tool that overlays diagonal lines over areas of an image that are overexposed—used to help judge proper exposure.
Zeppelin
A windscreen that is mounted on the end of a boom pole to protect the microphone from wind and other elements, which improves your overall sound quality.
Zero Cut
A clean edit with no transition—used in rapid-cut or hard-cut sequences.
Zero dB (Gain)
A reference gain setting on video cameras—raising gain can increase brightness but also introduces noise.
Z-Order
In digital editing/compositing, the stacking order of visual layers (what appears in front or behind).
Zoetrope
A cylinder with vertical slits cut in the side and sequential images pasted on the inside. As the cylinder spins, you look through the slits at the pictures across. Scanning the slits keeps the pictures from blurring together, and you see a rapid succession of images, producing the illusion of motion.
Zolly
A push-pull camera effect that combines a dolly move with a zoom in the opposite direction to create dramatic perspective shift (also known as the “Vertigo effect”).
Zoom
A type of shot in which you zoom in or out with the camera lens.
Zoom Lens
A lens with variable focal length, useful for quick framing changes—distinct from prime lenses.
Zoom Shot
The act of using a zoom lens during a shot, creating the effect of moving closer to or farther from the subject without physically moving the camera.
Zoopraxiscope
A device developed in the 1870s by Eadweard Muybridge that projected images from rotating glass disks in rapid succession to give the impression of motion. Considered by many to be the first movie projector.
Zoptic Process
A front-projection system used in films like Superman (1978) to simulate flying, where the background zooms in/out in sync with the camera lens.
Zone System
A photographic exposure method developed by Ansel Adams, sometimes applied in cinematography to control tonal range.
Zip Pan (Swish Pan)
An extremely fast pan that creates motion blur; often used as a transition.
hat wraps up our Film & Television Dictionary – Letter Z entries. This glossary is a living resource—new terms and updated definitions are added regularly as the industry evolves. If you have a suggestion or notice a term we’ve missed, feel free to reach out and share your input.
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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