Glossary of Graffiti

In the graffiti glossary we describe terms of the graffiti culture, elements of graffiti, colors, typography, digital graffiti & graphics.

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3D style

graffiti style which is focused on 3D blocks and the three-dimensional appearance of the graffiti

A

alphabet	a collection of characters consisting of both vowel and consonant sounds. While nearly every written language uses an alphabet, the number of letters varies from one language to another
analogous colors	colors, which sit next to each other on a color wheel. They are called “analogous”, because the colors share an analogy – the same hue. Thus they appear visually appealing combined.
angels	graffiti artists, who got fame and already passed away
all city	achieving fame in a whole city through one’s tag or a catchy graffiti piece/throw-up. The original meaning was to be known/famous in the five Boroughs of New York City (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhatten, Queens, Staten Island) by placing one’s graffiti and tags on subways to be seen all around the city
anti-style	Ugly, badly sprayed graffiti with immature artistic style. The anti-style developed when inexperienced sprayers justified their still-immature pieces by claiming it was a deliberate artistic choice. So, anti-style graffiti, also known as ill-style, is rarely used intentionally.
autorack	goods train with surfaces easy to spray on

B

back-to-back (b2b)	gf a graffiti covers a whole wall/carriage from end-to-end (e2e), it will be called back-to-back.
backjump	A “backjump” is a very fast sprayed graffiti on a train during a stop at a station.
beef	a conflict between writers/rappers
blackbook	A sketchbook for graffiti sketches. It usually has a black cover, so it is called “blackbook” as well.
blockbuster	Simple, huge letters characterize a blockbuster. The graffiti’s aim is to cover as much of a background as possible. Often done with silver or white coloring.
bite	To bite means to copy or steal a tag, color palette or piece of another sprayer. Do not mix gathering inspiration/soaking with copying/biting.
block	element of a graffiti piece, which gives it a three-dimensional effect
bombing	The art of illegally spraying graffiti. Quickly executed tags and throw-ups mostly.
bubble style	The letters of a bubble style graffiti are round and partially overlapping each other. They look like balloons a bit, which seem to fly away. The rounding of letters of throw-ups led to the bubble style. Thus bubble style graffiti are often done in two colors only, like throw-ups.
buff	remove graffiti, or removing materials; also: painting over it with the color of the background to remove it
burner	Very well done graffiti piece with many details. Often used to compliment other writers
busted	getting arrested by the police for doing illegal graffiti.

C

calligraffiti	calligraphic graffiti tags and by calligraphy inspired graffiti pieces
can	spray paint can/ aerosol can
cap	A nozzle made out of plastic for paint cans. Different types of caps can achieve different spray effects like sharp lines or soft fadings.
characters	Abbreviation for “cartoon character”. It is painted next to a graffiti to create a scenario around the graffiti piece.
CMYK	CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key ( = black). It is a color model used for printing, where colors are created by combining ink in percentages of these four colors.
color palette	a color palette is a set of colors chosen for a specific sketch, design or, artwork. You need numbered markers/cans to be able to create a graffiti with predefined visually appealing color combinations.
complementary colors	colors, which are on the opposite side of each other on the color wheel
crew	A group of writers collaborating together
cross	“To cross” means to paint over an existing not appreciated graffiti with a quick throw-up, tag or just a line.
cut	Redefine lines by using the background color to make them look more straight.

D

def	something that is really cool
destroy line	the line, which crosses an existing graffiti piece
digital graffiti	graffiti, which is created with digital tools like Procreate for iPad, or Adobe Photoshop/Affinity Photo for raster graphics and Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics
digraph	In linguistics, a digraph is a pair of two letters used together to represent a single sound (phoneme) or a sound that doesn’t sound like the individual letters. e.g.: phone (“ph” sounds like “f”)
drip marker (mop)	a graffiti marker with round nib, which is used for tagging
drips	unwanted paint tears, if the can is not moved fast enough; sometimes also used as an element of style
dubs	graffiti done in silver/chrome (silver style) –  originally from London/UK
dusty	spraying more distant from a wall so that the lines and fill-ins are not opaque

E

end-to-end

Train carriages with graffiti covering the whole length. If the graffiti pieces also cover top-to-bottom, it is called a wholecar.

F

fading	Transition between two colors; gradient
fat cap	Fat caps are caps constructed to fill big areas or draw thick lines.
fill ins	The coloring of a graffiti piece is called “fill in”
fire extinguisher	A fire extinguisher is filled with diluted paint and used to create huge ugly tags.
freestyle	Graffiti done without preparation or sketch.

G

getting up	another important term of the graffiti culture, describing one of the main motives of graffiti artists to create their artworks – becoming fame
ghost	a piece of streetart/graffiti which was tried to be removed but is still visible
graffiti Artists	Josef Kyselak (already tagged his initial letters in the 19th century in Austria) Taki183 – first documented writer in New york Seen CanTwo Banksy Daim Skore79
graffiti Brands	Montana Molotow Ironlak Flame Stylefile Belton
graffiti markers	There are different kind of graffiti markers: e.g.: drip markers – markers for tagging; markers for drawing handstyles: like Grog, Stylefile or Toki markers; alcohol based pens to draw graffiti sketches – like Stylefile or Copic markers – good for drawing gradients. Acryl base markers – used for highlights or coloring graffiti without gradients (Molotow markers)
graffiti styles	3D-style bubble-style semi-wildstyle silver style simple-style stencils wildstyle
graffiti movies	Wildstyle: first graffiti movie from 1982. Wholetrain – german graffiti movie from 2007 Banksy – exit through the gift shop (2010) Beat Street (1984)
grafiti	“grafiti” is a misspelling of “graffiti”
graffitti	“graffitti” is a misspelling of “graffiti“
going over	Completely covering an existing graffiti.

H

Hall of fame	“Halls of fame” are places with lots of high-quality graffiti. It is usually legal to spray there.
hall (of fame) piece	A “hall piece” therefore is a graffiti piece sprayed in a hall of fame.
handstyle	term for a tag/writer’s signature; tags with more complexity, sophisticated individual styles
heavens / heaven spots	Heaven spots are rooftops, bridges or chimneys for instance. It is hard to spray there and it is easy to get caught by the police, but the graffiti is seen from many people and from far away and it is not easy to remove it. The gain a lot of respect from other writers.
highlight	reflection of light as an element of style usually sprayed as a star
hollows	A throw-up without a fill in; just the outline is sprayed

I

Ill-Style	synonym for anti-style
Insides	tags/throw-ups inside of a train

K

kerning	“kerning” is a typography term that describes the adjustment of space between individual characters of a font to create an overall pleasing appearance through evenly spaced letters.
keyline	the outline around a whole graffiti piece; (also called “second outline” in German-speaking countries)
king	Kings are respected, well skilled writers. This status can be achieved by getting props from another king. Crowns used in tags can be used to show this status, but can also be used just as a stylistic element.

L

landmark	A tag which is nor removed for more than 5 years.
line piece	A graffiti piece sprayed next to rail tracks. Often done on noise barriers.

M

married couple	Two wholecars next to each other
MOLOTOW	graffiti supplies company from Germany since 1996: https://brand.molotow.com/
monochromatic	variations of a single color
mural	Large graffiti piece created in a complex manner. Often in wildstyle or 3D style with characters, and/or detailed background.

O

one/oner	adding one to the tag means, that you are not affiliated with a crew; at least not the tag you are using with this postfix
one4all	a series of acrylic marker sets from the graffiti company MOLOTOW
one-liner	A throw-up or tag done in one line without interrupting the movement of drawing this line.
old school	Used as a prefix for an experienced writer or graffiti which remind of the style from decades ago – mostly basic tags and throw-ups from the 1970/80s.
outline	contour of graffiti letters, a piece

P

panel	A small graffiti on a train car usually done under the windows and somewhere between the doors. “Flying panels” are a sub-category and are sprayed above the windows.
paste-up	a stencil graffiti (or drawing) on paper attached to a wall with wallpaper paste
Pichação	brazilian style of tagging
piece	Abbreviation for “masterpiece” – a graffiti created in a complex manner. Often in wildstyle or 3D style with characters and/or detailed background.
props	= respect; comes from “proper respect”
punition	Repeating a word/tag in order to cover a whole surface as a style of graffiti.

Q

queen

Queens are respected, well skilled female writers. This status can be achieved by getting props from another king/queen.

R

to rack / racking	stealing graffiti supplies
rollerpiece / roller	Not very common form of graffiti. A graffiti only done with paint rollers. The disadvantage of this technique is that it only allows block letters. Not easily reachable areas can be painted and big letters can be created fast on the other hand.
rooftop	Graffiti foolhardy sprayed being on top of a building – Like on roof edges or chimneys.
rookie	beginner
run	length of time a graffiti stays in its place before it is covered up or removed. – “the piece runs for only 1 week”

S

second outline	the keyline is called “second outline” in German-speaking countries; the outline around a whole graffiti piece
semi-wildstyle	Already harder to read than simple style but not that complex as a wildstyle graffiti. Wildstyle graffiti have lots of effect, style elements, are arranged in a complex way, so they are really hard to read. The semi-wildstyle already uses some of them but not an extent that the graffiti is not readable anymore.
silver style	Like the name already implies: graffiti letters only painted in silver. Shadows and outlines are usually painted in black. The silver color makes it possible to paint on structured surfaces.
simple style	The letters of a simple style graffiti are easy to read und not arranged in a complex way. The fillins usually consist of 1-3 colors. There are not a lot of style elements used.
sketchbook	= blackbook
skinny cap	A cap designed to create exact lines.
slam	Spraying in very dangerous places
slash	Crossing someone else’s graffiti with one line.
soak up	Get inspired by other pieces, tags and letters.
soft cap	A cap designed to create fadings and for instance dust effects
stainer	A marker for tagging.
standard-cap	As the word already implies – a cap with no specific focus: industrial standard
station	Tags and throw-ups inside or next to a train station.
stencil	https://www.widewalls.ch/graffiti-styles/
sticker	A way to spread one’s tag. Stickers with the tag on it are placed around the city. “Hello my name is” – sticker are most popular.
straight letter	Simple style letters using only two colors

T

tag / graffiti tags	The signature of a writer – a line graffiti in one color with calligraphic and/or styled letters. Many famous sprayers use short synonyms – like “Daim” or “Seen”.
tetradic colors	= double complementary contrast; two pairs of complementary colors
throw-up	Meaning: Fast sprayed, simple graffiti with usually only one colored fill-ins. Tags and throw-ups (also “throwies”) are the two most basic types of graffiti. They can be sprayed quickly and thus are used to reach a large audience.
top-to-bottom	(T2B) – So called “top-to-bottom” pieces cover the entire height of a train carriage.
topping	To paint one’s graffiti directly above of someone else’s piece. This behaviour can be considered as passive-aggressive confrontation.
toy	What does “toy” mean in graffiti? A beginner or graffiti writer with no skills is called “toy”. This term is also used to deliberately put down another artist.
triadic colors	a color combination of three colors, which are evenly spaced around the color wheel, positioned in an equilateral triangle shape

U

urban art

urban art is an umbrella term for various forms of art in public space like graffiti & streetart; it is often referred to legal artworks

V

vector graphics

vector graphics are computer graphics created by using mathematical equations and geometrical shapes instead of pixels, so it is possible to resize them without losing quality

W

whole car	A carriage of a train completely covered in graffiti
wholetrain	A train completely covered in graffiti.
wildstyle	Very abstract, three-dimensional letters with many details – like arrows – added  and complex coloring and backgrounds characterize wildstyle graffiti pieces. It is often very hard or impossible to read them because the size of letter elements vary and the letters are very abstract already.
window-down	If a graffiti is sprayed below the window of a train car, it is called window-down graffiti. “window-down”- is also often used as a prefix for whole-cars.
woodblock graffiti	Not very common form of graffiti. A piece of streetart done on cheap wood and usually attached to lampposts.
writer	A synonym for “sprayer” or “graffiti artist”.

Y

yard

short for “train yard/rail yard” – a place where trains, subways or freight trains are parked, stored, or maintained. It is an important term in the graffiti culture because illegal graffiti artists sneak into these locations to paint wholecars, panels, etc. on the trains. Those graffiti pieces are considered high-risk and high-status, because train pieces are mobile and can be seen across the city.

Sources and additional resources:

• https://www.widewalls.ch/graffiti-styles/
• https://www.urbandictionary.com
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_of_Fame_(Graffiti)
• https://www.dosensport.com/graffiti-online-lexikon
• Book: Graffiti School – A student guid with teacher’s manual – Chris Ganter / Thames & Hudson, page 172
• Book: Graffiti – Kunst aus der Dose – Torsten Will
• https://www.dosensport.com/graffiti-online-lexikon
• https://www.widewalls.ch/graffiti-styles/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_graffiti
• https://www.urbandictionary.com/
• https://www.graffiti.org/faq/graffiti.glossary.html
• Book: Graffiti Bible – a complete guide on how to do graffiti – Eske Toubork – page 14 & 15