What is the correct name for "gleaming teeth"?

**Domino** · 01 December 2007, 09:36 AM

Hi,

Well my problem is that I don't know the correct term for the little gleaming star-like highlight that typically appears on gleaming white teeth in adverts!

I've tried searching everywhere that I can think of, but without knowing the technical term (I call it a "ting", but obviously no-one else in the world does!), it makes search engines less than useful!

If anyone understands what I'm talking about, could they advise?

Obviously, after I've found out the name, I need to find out the best way to draw one in Xara Xtreme Pro ;-)

BTW, although I'm only newly subscribed to this site, I've been using Xara (on PC) all the way back to the first version of Artworks (on Risc OS) and haven't found a need (or desire) to move to new software. You'd think after all that time that I'd know what gleaming teeth are called, but... :-)

Thanks,

Domino

**steve.ledger** · 01 December 2007, 10:46 AM

Um.... Isn't called a 'gleam' ??

I would have thought so

See -> Define: GLEAM

**Ted D** · 01 December 2007, 11:27 AM

How about "sparkling"?

**parahandy** · 01 December 2007, 11:35 AM

Or sparkle

**parahandy** · 01 December 2007, 11:37 AM

Sorry Ted you must have slipped your reply in while I was making up mine

**PhilM** · 01 December 2007, 11:53 AM

It's basically a "specular highlight" and any rays that you see coming from it are artefacts of the lens that's viewing the image.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specular_highlight

Phil

**Ross Macintosh** · 01 December 2007, 12:13 PM

For years I've always thought the graphic name for such specular highlights was 'bling'. Of course in recent years that name has become part of pop culture as the name for sparkly jewelry made popular by the videos / lifestyles of rap stars. I still think 'bling' is a good name for those graphic highlights on smiles etc because the word has almost a sound effect feeling to it. In an animation you'd almost expect the flash of bling to make a "bling" sound.

Regards, Ross

PS - The animated gif I attach is an old Xara graphic I did that had some 'bling' effects.

**Domino** · 01 December 2007, 12:57 PM

Well there's several different names for the darn thing in a thread only half a dozen posts long! I'm not surprised that I couldn't get much help from Google.

Thanks for the contributions; and thanks for the tip parahandy, like so much about Xara it's quite easy when someone shows you how to do it ;-)

Domino

**ss-kalm** · 01 December 2007, 02:25 PM

Photodraw have a specific tool for it - Microsoft calls it a "highlight". Have also heard it referred to as a "glint".

**raynerj1** · 01 December 2007, 03:27 PM

The Star effect you see is created by a "star filter". They come in 2 point, to 8 point models in multiples of 2. They are typically screwed on the front of 35MM camera lenses. See attached example of a 4 point star filter.

http://www.draginet.com/pics/clp14apr20070203a.jpg

Most camera shops carry filters, some are better stocked than others. Here is one that has a nice selection of used ones.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com