Structural
Features Content Analysis Project
DATE:
SEPTEMBER 12, 1997
CODING
MANUAL: TIMEPOINT VARIABLES
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Identify timepoint(s) to code by consulting
either the list of Reliability Timepoints or the list of Individual Coder
Timepoints. Follow the instructions on that list. If you have questions,
contact Cheryl Bracken.
2. Take the tape, and if appropriate the list of
Reliability Timepoints, to the graduate editing room (first floor Annenberg --
the access code is 125).
3. Choose a VCR/monitor based on the following
list of priority (i.e., use the first VCR/monitor on this list that is not
already being used):
Bench
3 - Right monitor
Bench
1 - Left monitor
Bench
1 - Right monitor
Bench
4 - Left monitor
Bench
4 - Right monitor
Bench
6 - Left monitor
Bench
6 - Right monitor
Bench
5 - Left monitor
Bench
5 - Right monitor
Bench
3 - Left monitor [as of July 1997 this deck is allowing the tape to
"slip"; do not use it]
It may be necessary to reserve VCR/monitor(s) for the time you will
be using them. There is a reservation sheet posted outside of the room.
4. Turn on the monitor and the VCR. Before
inserting the tape into the machine, copy from the tape label the information
requested at the beginning of the Coding Sheet.
5. Insert the tape into the machine and rewind
the tape to the beginning.
6. Make sure you are familiar with all of the
Guidelines for Using the Video Equipment and General Rules listed below. Reread
them if necessary.
7. Complete the Coding Sheet CAREFULLY; read and reread the
DEFINITIONS and NOTES in this Coding Manual for each question, and consult the
glossary of terms (the complete glossary is a separate document), as you code.
If you have questions contact Jennifer Snyder.
GUIDELINES FOR USING VIDEO
EQUIPMENT:
1. The "Reset" button is on the upper
left or upper right corner of the machine. Use this button when the coding
sheet instructs you to set the counter to zero.
2. do not
keep one image paused on the screen longer than necessary. If the
machine is kept in pause mode for a certain amount of time, it will stop
automatically to avoid excess wear on the tape, and you will risk losing the
exact starting point for coding.
3. Use the knob to "jog" and
"shuttle" through the tape. DO NOT USE THE "FAST-FORWARD"
OR "REWIND" BUTTONS unless you are finished coding. These functions
are more likely to strain the tape and cause "slippage" in the
time-counter. Also use "Pause"
rather than "Stop" -- again, this lessens the risk of
straining the tape and of losing the exact starting point.
4. Avoid switching directions (forward to
reverse) suddenly or repeatedly switching from "jog" to
"shuttle" modes.
5. As you move slowly through the tape, you will
notice horizontal lines that serve as dividers between frames. Keep in mind
that a frame is complete only when those dividers are not visible. When looking
for a complete frame, move the knob slightly forward or back until the divider
disappears.
GENERAL RULES
[READ AND REREAD THESE OFTEN!!!]
1. If you can not easily decide how to code
something, first reread all of the relevant DEFINITIONS and NOTES in the coding
manual, then reread these General Rules to see if one or more of them applies.
If you still can not easily decide how to code, CONTACT JENNIFER SNYDER AND DESCRIBE
THE GENERAL PROBLEM (DO NOT DESCRIBE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM; DO NOT CONSULT ANY
OTHER CODER(S). If you can not reach JENNIFER, write a complete description of
the problem/issue and staple it to the back of the coding sheet. Note the
problem on the appropriate space of the coding sheet.
2. A formal feature (including a credit,
graphic, id logo, program segment, etc.) begins with the first frame in which
the feature appears in a complete, "normal", "faded in"
image and ends with the last frame in which the feature appears in a complete,
"normal", "not faded out" image. Both the image and the
specific formal feature must be complete, “normal”, and “faded in”/”not faded
out”. Unless specifically instructed to do so, DO NOT CODE VARIABLES THAT OCCUR
IN TRANSITIONS between one image and another or an image and a blank screen -
instead move the tape forward past the transition.
3. DO NOT reset the timer to zero unless the
coding sheet specifically instructs you to do so.
4. Do not use the television content or form
that precedes or follows the exact 10 second interval selected for coding to
answer any coding items unless you are specifically instructed to do so.
5. For variables in which hours, minutes, and
seconds, but not frames are requested, round to the nearest second: if
the frame number is 15 or above, round up to the next second; if the frame
number is 14 or below, round down to the previous second.
6. ALL elements of a program or program segment
must be interrupted ("go away") in order to code a program
interruption or end of program segment as having occurred (i.e., that a new
segment has begun).
7. Content that is animated should be coded just
as live action content is. For example, camera movement, camera shot length,
music, special visual effects, special audio effects, etc. all can exist in
animation, even if they are created in a different way. Therefore, all general
rules and notes that apply to live action also apply to animation.
8. If there are two or more separate pictures
(simultaneous video pictures) on the screen, code variables in the individual
pictures unless a response option "Simultaneous video pictures" is
offered or the definitions and notes for the variable instruct otherwise.
9. If the screen contains only ONE picture and it
does not occupy the entire screen, code variables within that picture.
Images can naturally contain other
images (as when a television is shown in the background) -- these background
images should not be considered separately.
In cases where two pictures appear in
the same space on the screen (e.g., in music video when two different views of
an artist are shown, overlapping each other), if one of the pictures appears to
be dominant, code only that picture. If neither picture is dominant, DO NOT consider
changes in the individual pictures to apply to the overall image.
10. For transitions other than cuts (e.g.,
fades, dissolves, wipes, etc.) consider the end of the first shot to be the
last frame during which a completely unchanged, normal image appears; the next
shot begins on the first frame during which all indications of the transition
are gone and a normal image appears; all frames between these two constitute
the duration of the transition.
Unless specifically instructed to do
so, DO NOT code variables for images during these transitions. For example, if
the first frame of the 10 second interval is in the middle of a transition,
instead of coding that frame move to the first normal image following that
frame and code that image.
11. Do not code camera movements that are so
subtle and brief that they can not be clearly identified as actual camera
movements.
12. For all variables that record durations of
structural features, note that the coded durations will always be one frame
less than the actual durations. So if an inter-segment interval is just one
frame in duration, proper coding would be to record the duration as zero
frames.
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS
[READ AND REREAD THESE OFTEN!!!]
(A separate document contains a complete
glossary)
Anchor
frame - the frame that follows the first cut (not dissolve
or other transition) that follows the timepoint frame; it is used to avoid
problems due the tape counter slipping as a result of moving the tape back and
forth during coding.
Timepoint
frame - the frame that begins the 10 second interval used
for coding a given randomly selected timepoint value.
Frame - an
individual photograph on a video tape; when a tape is played at normal speed 30
frames are shown in rapid succession during every second, creating the illusion
of motion.
Image -
the contents of the entire viewing screen.
Picture - a
self-contained, bordered representation of objects, entities, etc.; there may
be more than one picture in a given image.
Response
option - a specific value among a set of exhaustive and
mutually exclusive values that the coder selects when coding a variable by
placing an "x" or a number in the appropriate space.
Screen -
the physical border that encloses the image on a television set.
Variable - an
operationalization of a concept that varies, with an exhaustive and mutually
exclusive set of values represented by response options. Also referred to as
"item" or "question".
CODING SHEET 2:
TIMEPOINT VARIABLES
Date
of coding: ______________
Name of coder:_______________________________ Date
of entry: ______________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Sampling
information [Copy from tape label]
TAPE#:
__ __ __ __
Recorded
on: MOnth: __ __ DaTe: __ __ YeaR: 9 5
DAY
of week:
(1.) Sunday _____
[1]
(2.) Monday _____
[2]
(3.) Tuesday _____
[3]
(4.) Wednesday _____
[4]
(5.) Thursday _____
[5]
(6.) Friday _____
[6]
(7.) Saturday _____
[7]
Time:
HOUR: __ __ AM / PM (circle one)
CHANNEL:
_______
[Copy
from table of random time points:]
INTERVal
#: _________ [1-8] Hours:__ __ Minutes: __ __ Seconds: __ __
_________________________________________________________________________________________
******************************************************************************************
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCATING TIMEPOINT
1. Make sure tape is rewound to beginning.
2. Move the tape forward to the frame that
follows the first cut (a complete image change between one frame and another,
not a dissolve or other transition) in the recording (use the editing wheel to
make sure you watch all of the images at the very beginning of the tape; move
to the frame that follows the first cut even if the image at that frame is
flawed because it is so close to the beginning of the recording; do not
consider the first frame of the recording itself to be a cut; the transition
from a blue screen with date/time/channel of the recording to the recording
itself should be considered the first cut; a complete transition from blank screen
to full image or full image to blank screen is a cut).
3. Set counter to zero (i.e., 00:00:00:00).
4. Move the tape forward exactly one minute
(i.e., until counter reads 00:01:00:00).
5. Set counter to zero.
6. IF YOU ARE DOING RELIABILITY CODING:
Check the list of random timepoints for the tape
you are coding.
** If someone else has filled in the location of
anchor frame and descriptions of anchor and timepoint frames, you can press
stop and then fast forward to move the tape to the timepoint frame. Be sure to
confirm that you have identified the same exact frame as the person who filled
out the form. If the location of an anchor frame that you find is different
than the one written on the list of random timepoints, use the location written
on the list, rather than the location you’ve identified. IF YOU CANNOT FIND THE
CORRET IMAGE NOTIFY CHERYL BRACKEN IMMEDIATELY!! Code variable 1 using
information from the list of timepoints, then skip to variable 2 and continue
coding.
** If no one has filled in the location of
anchor frame and descriptions of anchor and timepoint frames, continue with
these instructions.
7. Move the tape forward to the exact random
time point from the list of timepoints you are using. NOTE: The list of random
time points lists only minutes and seconds, not frames. Therefore, at every
starting timepoint, the last two digits on the counter (the frame counter)
should be zero (00).
8. Set counter to zero.
9. Play the next 10 seconds of tape.
10.
Code variable 1and then follow the instructions after variable 1.
1. How many segment genres in
10 seconds?
_____[1]
One [follow appropriate instructions below]
_____[2]
Two [follow appropriate instructions below]
_____[3]
Three or more [follow appropriate instructions below]
FULL
QUESTION:
How many
different segment genres are contained within the 10 second?
DEFINITIONS
& EXAMPLES:
Segment
- uninterrupted portion of one programming element (e.g., program,
advertisement, promotional announcement, public service announcement, or
bumper); segments are typically separated by inter-segment intervals, which
typically are short periods during which the screen is black and no sound is
heard (although the inter-segment interval sometimes is quite short or even
nonexistent, in which case only a cut separates segments).
Segment
genre - a category of programming element. The particular types are defined
under variable 2.
NOTES:
·
In any 10 second interval there may be more segments
than segment genres (e.g., two commercials in a row represent two segments but
only one segment genre).
·
A technical mistake that causes a very brief appearance
of part of a segment (e.g., a commercial not scheduled to be shown) should not
be considered a separate segment.
·
Distinct portions of a segment that are nevertheless
part of the segment should not be coded as a separate segment. This includes,
for example, a miscellaneous program-related element, the end of a commercial
in which information for ordering a product is shown, or a presentation at the
end of segment of news describing what is "coming up next.
·
Note that a program bumper is a specific type of
segment genre and therefore should be coded as a separate segment genre.
________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCATING TIMEPOINT (CONTINUED)
IF
THERE IS ONE SEGMENT GENRE IN 10 SECOND INTERVAL:
1. Move the tape to zero. This is the TIMEPOINT
FRAME and all variables in this Coding Sheet will be based on this exact
timepoint.
2. Move the tape forward to the frame that
follows the first cut that follows this timepoint frame -- this is the ANCHOR
FRAME for the timepoint frame (remember that a cut is a complete image change
between one frame and another, not a dissolve or other transition; a complete
transition from blank screen to full image or full image to blank screen is a
cut).
3. Record the minutes, seconds, and frames of
this anchor frame below, and if the timepoint came from the list of Reliability
Timepoints record it on that list as well.
LOCATION OF ANCHOR FRAME FOR THIS TIMEPOINT
Anchor frame: __ __
minutes __ __ seconds __ __ frames
4. FOR RELIABILITY CODING: If no coder has
filled in the information on the list of Reliability Timepoints, write your
anchor frame, a brief description of the image, and your initials in the spaces
provided.
5. Go
to question 2.
IF
THERE ARE TWO SEGMENT GENRES IN 10 SECOND INTERVAL:
1. Move the tape to the last frame of the
segment genre that was in progress at the random time point.
2. Reset counter to zero.
3. Move the tape back 20 seconds.
4. Reset timer to zero.
5. Play the next 10 seconds of tape.
* If there is only one segment genre
in these 10 seconds follow the instructions in the previous section
for "If there is one segment
genre in 10 second interval";
* If there are two segment genres in
these 10 seconds go back to instruction 1directly above.
* If there are three or more segment
genres in these 10 seconds go to the instructions below for "If
there are three or more segment
genres in 10 second interval"
IF
THERE ARE THREE OR MORE SEGMENT GENRES IN 10 SECOND INTERVAL:
1. Move tape to the first frame of the segment
genre in progress at the random time point.
2. Reset timer to zero.
3. You will need to code only this segment genre
even though it is less than 10 seconds long (most likely a bumper, station
identification, or promotional spot). Complete variable 1a below.
1a. Duration of segment genre
to be coded?
__ __ seconds __ __ frames
4. Now that one segment genre has been
identified for coding, follow the instructions in the previous section for
"If there is one segment genre in 10 second interval"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10
SECOND INTERVAL VARIABLES
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the segment genre?
Comedy
_____ [01] Situation comedy (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [02] Other (Describe/Title:______________________________________________)
Drama
_____ [03] Medical drama (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [04] Crime/legal/mystery drama (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [05] Science fiction/fantasy/horror (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [06] Other (Describe/Title:______________________________________________)
Serial
_____ [07] Daytime soap opera (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [08] Prime time soap opera (Title:______________________________________________)
Movie
_____ [09] TV movie (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [10] Theatrical film (Title:______________________________________________)
Informational/educational
_____ [11] Local news (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [12] National/international news (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [13] Documentary (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [14] Magazine (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [15] Reality program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [16] Instructional program (adults) (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [17] Other (Describe/Title:______________________________________________)
Talk
_____ [18] Celebrity talk (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [19] Political talk/com-
mentary/interview (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [20] Theme/topic show (Title:______________________________________________)
Promotional
_____ [21] Infomercial (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [30] Program/channel promo spot (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [31] Program bumper (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [32] Commercial (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [33] Public service announcement (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [34] Station identification (Product:______________________________________________)
_____ [35] Other (Product:______________________________________________)
Miscellaneous
_____ [22] Live action children's
educational
program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [23] Animated children's
educational
program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [24] Live action NONeducational
children's
program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [25] Animated NONeducational
children's
program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [26] Game show (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [27] Sports event (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [28] Music video program (Title:______________________________________________)
_____ [29] Other (Describe/title:______________________________________________)
FULL
QUESTION:
What
is the genre of the segment?
DEFINITIONS
& EXAMPLES:
Comedy
[01]
Situation comedy - actors portray characters, usually a family. Has a regular
cast. (e.g., Full House, All in the Family, Seinfeld)
[02]
Other - including sketch comedy, standup comedy, political comedy, etc. (e.g.,
Mad TV, Saturday Night Live, At the Improv, comedy shorts such as Our Gang and
Three Stooges)
Drama
[03]
Medical drama - dramatic story in medical setting (e.g., ER, Chicago Hope)
[04]
Crime/legal/mystery drama - dramatic story in criminal and criminal justice
setting, including pursuit, capture, punishment of criminals (e.g., Law &
Order, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Columbo)
[05]
Science fiction/fantasy/horror - dramatic story in "fantastic"
setting (e.g., Star Trek, Liquid TV, Hercules, Tales of the Crypt)
[06]
Other - including family drama (e.g., Little House, Dr. Quinn, Touched by an
Angel) and westerns
Serial
[07]
Daytime soap opera - daily serial drama airing in morning or afternoon (e.g.,
All My Children)
[08]
Prime time soap opera - weekly serial drama known specifically as a
"prime-time soap" (i.e., not just any drama that continues its
storylines from week to week like NYPD Blue) (e.g., Dallas, Dynasty, Melrose
Place, Central Park West, Knot's Landing, Falcon Crest)
Movie
[09]
TV movie - a film made specifically to be shown on television, with pauses
pre-designed for placement of commercials; do not count a special 2-hour
"movie" episode of a regular series (e.g., "In a special 2-hour
Matlock movie..." in this category.
[10]
Theatrical film - a film made specifically to be shown in movie theaters, with
no pauses pre-designed for commercials (e.g., Die Hard, In the Line of Fire)
Informational/educational
[11]
Local news - regularly scheduled broadcast, typically live, of news gathered
from various sources and presented by local station (e.g., Action News, Channel
10 News).
[12]
National/international news - regularly scheduled broadcast, typically live, of
news gathered from various sources and presented by national (e.g., NBC, CBS)
or international (e.g., CNN) news organizations.
[13]
Documentary - one topic examined, often concerning history or nature (e.g.,
Nature, The World at War)
[14]
Magazine - multiple long form (5 or more minute) stories, either tabloid or
traditional formats (e.g., Hard Copy, 60 Minutes, 20/20, 48 Hours). NOTE that
magazine programs may seem similar to talk programs, but magazine programs
typically (but not always) go out of the studio for a story, do not feature an
audience, and do not have guests who come to the studio.
[15]
Reality program - typically use cinema verite to capture or re-create real-life
situations, often without a regular cast (e.g., Cops, 911, Stories of the
Highway Patrol, The Real World)
[16]
Instructional program (adults) - programs that offer the viewer a step by step
explanation of an activity or task (e.g., This Old House, Julia Childs, Graham
Kerr, ESPN exercise shows).
[17]
Other - programs that don't fit in any one of the other categories (e.g., Good
Morning America, Today, CBS Morning News, Extra). This option includes news programs with stories too short to be a
magazine program but on a specific type of
story such as entertainment news (Entertainment Tonight, Showbiz Today)
or sports news (ESPN Sportscenter).
Talk
[NOTE that talk programs may seem similar to news
magazine programs, but talk programs typically (but not always) stay in the
studio for a story, feature an audience, and have guests who come to the
studio.]
[18]
Celebrity talk - a program that features a regular host or hosts with guest(s)
that are primarily entertainment and sports personalities, does not have a
unifying theme throughout a particular episode. (e.g., The Tonight Show, The
Late Show, The Late, Late Show, Regis & Kathie Lee, Late Night with Conan
O'Brien)
[19]
Political talk/commentary/interview - conversations that usually deal with
political topics where the guest(s) and his/her expertise are the focus (e.g.,
This Week with David Brinkley, Face the Nation, Meet the Press, Larry King,
Charlie Rose)
[20]
Theme/topic show - a program that is centered around a particular issue where
the guests are brought in to facilitate the discussion, the host serves to
stimulate discussion and/or moderate between the guest(s) and the audience
(e.g., Montel, Oprah, Donohue, Rolanda, Jenny Jones, Sally J. Raphael, Geraldo)
Promotional
[21]
Infomercial - an advertisement that is longer than traditional commercials
(usually 30 minutes) and uses techniques to appear to be a genre other that an
advertisement, such as a talk show (e.g., exercise, makeup, hair loss, etc. on
cable)
[30] Program/channel promo spot - a segment in
which the channel being viewed and/or a program to be presented in the future
on that channel is/are promoted (e.g., "Friday on Picket Fences",
"NBC Must-See Tuesday...", "A-B-C is the Place To Be").
[31] Program bumper - a very short segment that
identifies ONLY the program in progress and provides a buffer between a program
segment and commercials or other types of program interruptions (e.g., after each
5-7 minute segment of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a program bumper is shown
containing the blue logo for the program on a star-filled background with the
signature orchestral melody of the show).
[32] Commercial - a segment that promotes 1) a
product or service that the viewer is urged to purchase, 2) a political
candidate the viewer is urged to vote for, or 3) the public image of a
for-profit organization; this category does not include messages by nonprofit
groups. Include in this category promotional messages from industry groups,
such as those advocating milk or beef.
[33] Public service announcement - a segment
that promotes attitude, knowledge, and/or behavior change on the part of the
viewer in a message sponsored by a nonprofit organization or obviously provided
without cost by a for-profit media organization (e.g., "This is your
brain; this is your brain on drugs" spots from the Partnership for a
Drug-free America; "The more you know..." spots on NBC)
[34] Station identification - very short
segments that primarily serve to identify the network/station/channel the
viewer is watching, as required a certain number of times each hour, and
typically on the hour and half-hour, by the FCC (e.g., the screen that appears
just before a program begins that says "Channel 6. WPVI.
Philadelphia"). There must be no celebrity, program or channel being
promoted.
[35] Other - e.g., test of Emergency Broadcast
System, bumpers that identify a set of programs (such as Warner Brothers
Cartoon Afternoon)
Miscellaneous
[22]
Live action children's educational program - program designed primarily to
teach children; contains specific provision of information, knowledge, facts,
advice, etc. aimed at children; live action only (e.g., Sesame Street, Barney,
Mr. Rogers, 3-2-1 Contact, Electric Company).
This option does NOT include programs that happen to contain moral messages but are not specifically
designed to teach children specific things (e.g., most situation comedies
contain messages such as "Respect your parents" and "Be
honest", and "Captain Planet" shows superheroes who fight
pollution, etc., but these are designed more to entertain than to be
educational).
[23]
Animated children's educational program - program designed primarily to teach
children; contains specific provision of information, knowledge, facts, advice,
etc. aimed at children; animated or primarily animated only (e.g., Richard
Scary's Storybook/Storytown). This
option does NOT include programs that
happen to contain moral messages but are not specifically designed to
teach children specific things (e.g., most situation comedies contain messages
such as "Respect your parents" and "Be honest", and
"Captain Planet" shows superheroes who fight pollution, etc., but these
are designed more to entertain than to be educational).
[24]
Live action NONeducational children's program - program designed primarily to
entertain children; live action only (e.g., Power Rangers, The Muppets,
Clarissa Explains It All, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)
[25]
Animated NONeducational children's program - program designed primarily to
entertain children; animated or primarily animated only (e.g., X-Men, Rugrats,
Scooby Doo, Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs, Loony Toons, Tiny Toons)
[26]
Game show - features contestants who participate in an activity with
pre-determined rules in order to win prizes (e.g., Jeopardy, Price is Right,
Wheel of Fortune)
[27]
Sports - broadcast of a sporting event; this includes any kind of athletic
competition (including programs like "American Gladiators", etc.).
This option includes only sports events, NOT sports news programs.
[28]
Music video program - a collection of videos showed under a program title
showed in 30 minutes increments usually has a V. J. (e.g., Big 80s, 8-Track
flashback, Video P.M., Alternative Nation, 120 Minutes, Yo! MTV raps)
[29] Other - programs that don't fit in any one
of the other categories (e.g., breaking news, awards shows, beauty pageants,
variety programs, etc.)
NOTES:
·
If there are two instances of the same genre in the 10
second interval (e.g., 2 commercials), identify the title of both in the space
provided.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
FIRST FRAME OF 10 SECOND INTERVAL VARIABLES
__________________________________________________________________________________________
[For 3-5, code only the FIRST frame in the
10-second interval image (if that frame does not contain a NORMAL, FADED-IN
IMAGE move the tape forward to the first such image).]
3. Number of objects in image?
__ __
objects
FULL
QUESTION:
In
the first frame of the 10 second interval (the timepoint frame) how many
objects are there in the image?
DEFINITIONS
& EXAMPLES:
Object
- any distinct, separate thing, person, or entity, including individual words
(or if perceived as separate objects, individual letters), individual distinct
parts of graphics, separate objects in background or foreground, and objects
only partially visible (i.e., blocked by other objects or cut off at edge of
image).
NOTES:
·
An individual word is an object. A word is any
combination of letters and/or numbers that is meaningful. Punctuation is not a
word. When a hyphen connects words, each word is an object (but the hyphen is
not - it is part of the first word). As with letters, for sequences of numbers
each meaningful grouping of numbers is a word/object (so "$4.99" is a
word and so is "(800) 928-2000").
·
In considering what constitutes an object, group things
that are organically or structurally attached to each other (e.g., parts of a
face, fingers on a hand, parts of a person, branches of a tree, trees in a
forest, walls in a room, etc.); do NOT group things that just touch each other
but are distinct. A face is always one object. A bowl of cereal or fruit is one
object unless each piece of cereal/fruit is clearly identifiable.