AIFD CFD flashcards
AIFD CFD · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Line
- A design element that creates a visual path and directs eye movement; vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved lines each produce distinct emotional effects.
- Form
- A three-dimensional shape with volume and mass; closed forms feel solid and contained, while open forms feel lighter and more expansive.
- Negative space
- The unoccupied area around, between, and within design forms; negative space defines silhouette, prevents crowding, and gives the eye rest.
- Asymmetrical balance
- Balance achieved with unequal visual masses arranged so their weights offset; a large light mass may balance a small dark or coarse mass.
- Focal point
- The dominant visual area that first attracts attention; it is usually supported by subordinate forms and placed near the design's visual center.
- Rhythm
- A principle that moves the eye through a design using repetition, transition, graduation, radiation, or continuous line; it prevents static composition.
- Proportion
- The relationship of one part to another and to the whole; floral designs often use container-to-arrangement ratios near 1:1.5 or 1:2.
- Wire gauge
- A number indicating wire thickness; lower gauges are thicker and stronger, so 18-gauge supports heavy stems while 28-gauge suits delicate petals.
- Hairpin wiring
- A method in which wire is bent into a hairpin, passed through a stem or petal base, and twisted down; it supports without piercing visibly.
- Floral foam saturation
- Floral foam must be fully soaked before stems are inserted; dry foam repels water and causes collapse, so foam is allowed to sink and absorb without forcing.
- Tape grid
- A support grid made by stretching waterproof tape across a vase opening; openings between tape lines hold stems upright and control spacing.
- Spiral hand-tied
- A bouquet technique in which stems cross in one direction around a binding point, creating a spiral; stems are bound and cut to stand evenly.
- Water pick
- A small sealed water tube attached to an individual stem; it supplies isolated hydration for corsages, party work, or flowers used out of water.
- Cold glue
- A floral adhesive for delicate or fresh materials; it sets more slowly than hot glue and avoids heat damage, but needs a dry surface.
- Hue
- The family name of a color on the color wheel, such as red, yellow, or blue; hue is separate from lightness and intensity.
- Value
- The lightness or darkness of a color; value changes are made by adding white for a tint, black for a shade, or gray for a tone.
- Analogous scheme
- A color harmony using adjacent hues on the color wheel, such as red, red-orange, and orange; it creates cohesion with limited contrast.
- Split-complementary
- A scheme using one hue plus the two hues adjacent to its complement; it offers strong contrast with more nuance than a direct complement.
- Simultaneous contrast
- The perceptual shift in hue or value caused by surrounding colors; a gray appears warmer beside blue and cooler beside orange.
- Warm colors
- Hues such as red, orange, and yellow that appear to advance toward the viewer; they add energy and visual weight to a composition.
- Monocot
- A flowering plant with one seed leaf, parallel leaf veins, and floral parts usually in threes; grasses, lilies, and orchids are examples.
- Ethylene sensitivity
- The susceptibility of flowers to damage from ethylene gas, which causes petal drop, yellowing, or premature aging; sensitive species need isolation.
- Floral preservative
- A conditioning solution that supplies sugar, lowers pH, and inhibits bacteria; clean water and recutting improve its effectiveness.
- Sepal
- A leaf-like structure at the flower base that protects the developing bud; sepals often remain visible after the petals open.
- Capitulum
- A flower head composed of many small florets on a common receptacle, typical of the daisy family; sunflowers and chrysanthemums show this form.
- Cold storage
- Holding cut flowers at low temperature to slow respiration and aging; most temperate flowers need 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit, while tropicals need 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Keystone pricing
- A pricing method that doubles the cost of goods; a 100 percent markup yields a 50 percent gross margin on the retail price.
- Gross margin
- The percentage of retail price remaining after cost of goods sold; formula is retail price minus cost, divided by retail price.
- Break-even point
- The sales level at which total revenue equals total costs; in units it equals fixed costs divided by price minus variable cost.
- Force majeure
- A contract clause excusing performance when unforeseen events such as disasters, strikes, or government orders prevent fulfillment.
- COGS
- Cost of goods sold; in floral work it includes flowers, hard goods, packaging, and supplies directly used to produce the sale.
- AIFD ethics
- Professional standards requiring accurate credential claims, confidentiality, fair dealing, respect for peers, and refusal of unsafe or deceptive work.