backlight
LCD panel illumination
A backlight is a light source positioned behind a subject or display.
In photography and film, backlighting creates silhouettes or glowing outlines: The sunset backlit the mountains.
In screens—phones, monitors, TVs—the backlight illuminates the display from behind, making images visible.
As a verb, to backlight is to illuminate from behind: The photographer backlit the model's hair.
Semiconductor that glows
- LCDLowest shared fraction bottom
- OLEDEmissive display technology
- nitsLice before hatching
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
dimming · backplane · mini-LED · uniformity · blooming · HDR · panel · IPS
Light blocked by object
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- outlineSummary of key elements
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- darknessTotal absence of light
gradation · tone · luminance · depth · separation · definition · figure-ground · chiaroscuro
Steady, soft light
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- auraPerceived emanation surrounding someone
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- luminousEmitting or reflecting light
radiant · translucent · shimmer · dramatic · atmospheric · rim · outline · soft
Filled-in outline shape
- exposureState of being unprotected
- bokehAesthetic quality of defocus
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
- f-stopLens opening ratio
ISO · lens · diffuser · reflector · portrait · studio · flash · composition
LED
Semiconductor that glows
brightness · dimming · backplane · mini-LED · uniformity · blooming · HDR · panel · IPS · VA
shadow
Light blocked by object
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- outlineSummary of key elements
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
darkness · gradation · tone · luminance · depth · separation · definition · figure-ground · chiaroscuro · relief
glow
Steady, soft light
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- auraPerceived emanation surrounding someone
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
luminous · radiant · translucent · shimmer · dramatic · atmospheric · rim · outline · soft · diffuse
silhouette
Filled-in outline shape
f-stop · ISO · lens · diffuser · reflector · portrait · studio · flash · composition · depth
monitor
Display or supervisor
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- smartphoneHandheld connected computer
- tabletFlat portable computing device
screen · display · keyboard · dashboard · e-reader · laptop · gauge · dial · console · touchscreen
blinding
Painfully intense light
- overexposureExcessive amount of something
- flareSudden bright burst
- dazzleImpress through radiance
- fish findersfish finder, echo sounder, depth finder, transducer, flasher
- PDAsPDA, Palm Pilot, PalmPilot, handheld, digital organizer
- lightsunlight, shine, rays, moonlight, beam
- televisionTV, television, broadcast, TV shows, TV series
- camera actionsshoot, capture, photograph, focus, expose
- car audiocar radio, car stereo, head unit, stereo, infotainment
backlightfront light
Forward-facing lamp
key light · fill light · sidelight · side light · ambient light