What you will learn in How Computers Make Books
From graphics rendering, search algorithms, and functional programming to indexing and typesetting
Chapter by chapter
Concepts explained in this book
- digital halftoningA halftone screen is a regular dot pattern or screening process used to reproduce continuous tones in printing or display.
- coordinateA coordinate is a numerical value that identifies a position relative to a specified reference system.
- lineA line is a continuous one-dimensional geometric or visual form extending between or through points.
- resolutionResolution is the density of individual image dots within a specified physical area.
- dotA dot is a small individual mark or unmarked location that contributes to a printed or displayed image.
- algorithmAn algorithm is a finite, explicit sequence of instructions for carrying out a computation or solving a problem.
- hyphenationHyphenation is the division of a written word at a permitted point, typically at a line boundary, with a hyphen marking the division.
- Bézier curveA Bézier curve is a parametric curve defined by endpoints and control points whose positions determine the curve's shape.
- engravingEngraving is a printing technique in which lines are cut directly into a metal plate with a hard tool to hold ink.
- etchingEtching is an intaglio technique in which acid roughens exposed areas of a metal plate after a protective coating has been selectively removed.
- intaglioIntaglio is a family of printing techniques in which ink is held in recessed lines or areas of an engraved plate and transferred under pressure.
- mezzotintMezzotint is an intaglio technique that roughens a plate to create an ink-holding dark field and burnishes selected areas to produce lighter tones.
- photographic filmPhotographic film is a light-sensitive material containing silver compounds whose exposure records an image.
- photographic negativeA photographic negative is an image in which the tonal or color relationships are reversed relative to the final positive image.
- woodblock printWoodblock printing is a relief-printing technique in which ink is applied to raised portions of an engraved wooden block and stamped onto a substrate.
- pathA path is an ordered sequence of graphical segments that defines a connected outline or shape.
- pixelA pixel is an individual picture element in a digital image or display, typically representing a color or intensity value.
- glyphA glyph is a particular visual representation of a character in a typeface or writing system.
- dots per inchDots per inch is a unit that expresses the number of image dots along one inch of length.
- filled shapeA filled shape is a bounded geometric region rendered with a continuous interior color or marking.
- grayscale imageGrayscale is a range of achromatic intensities between black and white.
- PDFPDF is a document file format designed to preserve a document's layout and visual appearance across systems.
- pseudocodePseudocode is an informal notation resembling programming languages that expresses an algorithm without requiring the syntax of a specific language.
- compare algorithmA compare algorithm is a procedure that compares a word with text at specified positions and returns whether the compared characters all match.
- search algorithmA search algorithm is a procedure that examines possible positions in text to find occurrences matching a specified word.
- ditheringA dither pattern is a spatial arrangement of discrete marks used to approximate tones or colors through variation in mark density.
- de Casteljau algorithmThe de Casteljau algorithm recursively subdivides a Bézier curve by taking interpolated points between its defining points.
- listA list is an ordered collection of elements that can be empty or decomposed into a first element and a remaining sublist.
- curve subdivisionCurve subdivision is the process of splitting a curve into smaller connected curve sections.
- aliasingJagged or otherwise distorted visual appearance caused by representing a high-resolution signal at insufficient resolution.
- anti-aliasingA rendering technique that reduces visible jaggedness by assigning intermediate intensities near shape boundaries.
- functionA function is a named computational unit that accepts parameters, performs operations, and can return a result.
- ordered ditheringOrdered dithering is a dithering technique that uses a fixed spatial threshold pattern to represent intermediate tones with discrete output values.
- control pointA control point is a point whose position determines how a Bézier curve deviates from the line between its endpoints.
- curve continuityCurve continuity describes whether adjacent curve pieces meet and whether their direction or slope changes at the join.
- curve flatnessCurve flatness is a measure of how closely a curve follows a straight line between its endpoints.
- input methodAn input system is a method for entering characters that cannot be directly represented by the available keyboard keys.
- keyboardA keyboard is an input device containing arranged keys for entering characters and commands into a computer.
- unit of measurementA unit is a standardized quantity used to measure a physical or mathematical dimension.
- compressionCompression is the reduction of the amount of data needed to represent information while preserving either all or an acceptably useful part of its content.
- UnicodeUnicode is an international character-encoding standard that assigns numeric code points to characters and defines rules for their combination without prescribing their visual glyph shapes.
- arcA circular arc is a continuous portion of the circumference of a circle.
- PDF objectA PDF object is a typed structural or content unit stored in a PDF file and referenced by object number.
- page contentPage content is the sequence of PDF operators, numbers, and strings that describes what appears on a page.
- code tableA code table is a predefined mapping from encoded symbols or run lengths to their codewords.
- line segmentA line segment is the finite straight connection between two points.
- laser printerA laser printer is a printer that uses a laser to form an electrostatic image on a roller before transferring toner to paper.
- tonerToner is the powdered coloring material transferred to paper in a laser-printing process.
- Huffman encodingHuffman encoding is a variable-length prefix coding technique that assigns shorter codewords to more frequent symbols.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.