IMAGE PLANE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "image plane" refers to a conceptual plane or surface on which a two-dimensional representation or image is formed. It is commonly used in the context of photography, video production, computer graphics, and optics.
In photography and videography, the image plane is the surface where the light coming through the lens is focused and captured. It is typically a flat surface, such as the film in traditional cameras or the digital sensor in modern digital cameras. When the lens projects the scene onto the image plane, it forms an inverted and reversed image of the subjects being captured.
In computer graphics, the image plane refers to a specific plane in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual environment where the computer-generated images are rendered. The image is created by projecting the 3D scene onto this imaginary plane, allowing it to be viewed and manipulated on a two-dimensional display.
In optics and geometric optics, the image plane is a theoretical plane perpendicular to the optical axis where the image of an object is formed or focused. It can also refer to the plane of a screen or surface where the final image is observed or captured.
Overall, the image plane is a fundamental concept that helps to understand the formation, projection, and representation of visual imagery, whether it is in the context of photography, videography, computer graphics, or optics.
Etymology of IMAGE PLANE
The word "image plane" is derived from two separate terms: "image" and "plane".
The term "image" comes from the Latin word "imago", which originally referred to a likeness, copy, or representation of something. Over time, "imago" evolved and entered Middle English as "ymage" before eventually becoming "image" in Modern English. In the context of "image plane", "image" refers to a visual representation or depiction.
The term "plane" traces its origins back to the Latin word "planus", meaning flat or level. It entered Middle English from Old French as "plain" and eventually took on its current form as "plane". A plane is a two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely in all directions, often represented as a flat surface or a geometric figure with straight sides.
