Zoom
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When referring to an image or graphic, zoom is a term used to describe a function of focusing on a section of the image and increasing its overall size, allowing the user to manipulate or view that section in greater detail.
In the image to the right, is an example of an image that has been zoomed into at 1600%. - When referring to a window in a GUI, zoom is another name for maximize.
- Alternatively referred to as optical zoom, zoom is
a camera and digital camera feature that
uses optics in the camera lens to move in on an object without having to
move closer. A digital camera may also include a digital zoom, which uses digital technology
to get closer to an object beyond the capabilities of the camera lens.
A digital zoom is what allows the camera to have a 300x zoom capability and works by cropping a portion of the image and then enlarging that section. A digital zoom will give the appearance of getting closer to an object, but it will also decrease the quality of the image and often make it pixelated.
Also see: GUI, Maximize, Pixel, Scale, Video definitions
