Kuvalkulma

Kuvalkulma is a Finnish neologism formed from kuva, meaning image, and kulma, meaning angle. The term is used to describe the angular relationship of an image plane within imaging contexts, such as photography, cinematography, and technical drawing.

In photography and film, kuvalkulma refers to the orientation and tilt of the image plane relative to the subject and camera. Variations in kuvalkulma can influence perceived perspective, distortion, and the alignment of lines within the frame. The concept is often discussed alongside other geometric notions such as angle of view and tilt.

Kuvalkulma is distinct from näkökulma (point of view). Whereas näkökulma refers to the observer's vantage, kuvalkulma concerns the geometric orientation of the produced image rather than the viewer's position.

Measurement and terminology: kuvalkulma is typically described in degrees, with common ranges including near-zero (a flat, horizontal image) to several tens of degrees of tilt. In practice, photographers and designers may refer to specific tilts by describing the axis of rotation (horizontal tilt, vertical tilt) rather than using a fixed standard.

Status and usage: The term is not widely established in Finnish technical vocabulary and appears mainly in informal discussion, niche art-writing, or glossaries created for educational purposes. Consequently, standard definitions and usage vary, and many practitioners prefer established terms such as tilt, rotation, or angle of view for explicit meaning.

See also: angle of view, perspective, projection, tilt.