cutlines
Text beneath images
Cutlines are the captions accompanying photographs or illustrations in newspapers, magazines, and other publications.
The term comes from printing, where images were called cuts.
Cutlines identify who or what appears in an image and provide context: The cutline identified the woman on the left as the mayor.
In journalism, writing tight cutlines is a distinct skill—they must inform without merely describing what's already visible.
Text accompanying an image
- photo captionText identifying an image
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
- explanationStatement making something clear
- attributionAssigning origin or cause
annotation · text · identifier · label · legend · byline · photo credit · context
Reports of recent events
- reportageFactual news writing
- photojournalismVisual news reporting
- pressApply force downward
- wire serviceOrganization distributing news widely
AP style · editorial · publication · newspaper · magazine · story · article · feature
Arranging text for print
- fontCharacter style set
- typefaceLettering style design
- point sizeUnit measuring font height
- italicSlanted letter style
boldface · leading · kerning · proofing · galley · copy editing · style guide · character count
Putting somewhere specific
- designPurposeful creative planning
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
- formatArrangement and presentation style
alignment · typography · white space · column · positioning · wrap · flow · proximity
Shortness of expression
- conciseBriefly and clearly stated
- informativeProviding useful knowledge
- clarityState of being understandable
- contextCircumstances shaping meaning
attribution · identification · present tense · active voice · accuracy · who · what · when
caption
Text accompanying an image
- photo captionText identifying an image
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
- explanationStatement making something clear
attribution · annotation · text · identifier · label · legend · byline · photo credit · context
news
Reports of recent events
- reportageFactual news writing
- photojournalismVisual news reporting
- pressApply force downward
wire service · AP style · editorial · publication · newspaper · magazine · story · article · feature · assignment
typesetting
Arranging text for print
- fontCharacter style set
- typefaceLettering style design
- point sizeUnit measuring font height
italic · boldface · leading · kerning · proofing · galley · copy editing · style guide · character count · indent
placement
Putting somewhere specific
- designPurposeful creative planning
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
format · alignment · typography · white space · column · positioning · wrap · flow · proximity · juxtaposition
brevity
Shortness of expression
- conciseBriefly and clearly stated
- informativeProviding useful knowledge
- clarityState of being understandable
context · attribution · identification · present tense · active voice · accuracy · who · what · when · where
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- journalism termsheadline, headlines, byline, bylines, lead
cutlinesheadlines
Article titles in newspapers
banner headlines · banner headline · body copy · lead paragraph · cover story
cutlinesphotographs
Light-captured images
illustrations · images · pictures · photos · graphics