This list includes 15 Photography words that start with K, from “K (resolution)” to “Knockout”. These terms cover camera settings, film and print techniques, color measures, and editing tools used across photography.
Photography words that start with K are vocabulary items used to describe cameras, exposure, color, and processing. Kodachrome and Kelvin are notable K-terms that shaped color photography and remain widely referenced.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Example, Related terms, Link.
Term: The actual photography word that begins with K, so you can scan quickly for the term you need.
Definition: A concise 1–2 sentence explanation that tells you the meaning and when you might encounter the term.
Example: A short usage or context that shows how the term appears in real photography work or gear.
Related terms: Helpful cross-references so you can explore connected concepts and deepen your understanding.
Link: Direct pointers to further reading or articles where you can learn more about the term and its applications.
Photography words that start with K
| Term | Category | Abbreviation / Alt. spellings | Typical units / Related gear | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvin | concept | K | K, white balance | Unit of color temperature that describes light warmth; used in cameras and lighting to set accurate white balance. |
| K (resolution) | concept | 4K, 8K | pixels, video, monitors | “K” denotes roughly thousands of horizontal pixels (e.g., 4K ≈ 4,000 pixels wide), used for video and high‑resolution imaging. |
| Kicker | lighting | kicker light, rim light | strobe, LED, rim light | A small back or side light that creates a highlight on edges to separate subject from background. |
| Key light | lighting | key | strobe, softbox, umbrella | The primary light in a portrait or studio setup that defines the subject’s form and shadow direction. |
| Keying | technique | chroma key, alpha key | green screen, compositing software | Removing a single color or luminance range from an image or video to composite subjects onto different backgrounds. |
| Keyframe | technique | KF | video, timelapse, editing software | A frame that stores specific parameter values (position, exposure, effects) used to create animation or adjustments over time. |
| Keystoning | concept | keystone correction | projector, lens shift, perspective tool | Perspective distortion where verticals converge or diverge (common with tilt/shift); correctable in camera or post. |
| Kit lens | equipment | kitlens | mm, e.g., 18-55mm, zoom | A basic zoom lens typically bundled with entry-level cameras; versatile and affordable for general shooting. |
| K-mount | equipment | K mount | camera mount, DSLR, adapters | A lens mount standard (originally by Pentax) used to attach lenses to compatible camera bodies or adapters. |
| Kilobyte | metric | KB | 1,024 bytes, file size | File‑size unit often used to describe small image files; in computing 1 KB commonly equals 1,024 bytes. |
| Kernel | concept | convolution kernel, filter | pixels, software filters | A small matrix applied to image pixels to perform effects like blur, sharpen, edge detection or embossing. |
| Knockout | technique | layer knockout | Photoshop, layers, masks | A layer or layer style option that punches through one or more layers to reveal content underneath, used in compositing. |
| Kirlian photography | technique | Kirlian | high-voltage, electrode, special plate | Technique that captures corona discharge around objects or living tissues using high-voltage, often for artistic or research images. |
| Knife-edge test | technique | knife-edge | telescope, optics, focus testing | An optical test using a blade to evaluate focus quality and surface errors of lenses or mirrors, used in precise optical work. |
| Kilopixel | metric | kpx | pixels | Informal unit equal to 1,000 pixels, used when describing image or sensor resolution in rough terms. |