Cut-out (espionage)

In espionage parlance, a cut-out is a mutually trusted intermediary, method or channel of communication, facilitating the exchange of information between agents. Cutouts usually only know the source and destination of the information to be transmitted, but are unaware of the identities of any other persons involved in the espionage process (need to know basis). Thus, a captured cutout cannot be used to identify members of an espionage cell.

Outside espionage

Some computer protocols, like Tor, use the equivalent of cutout nodes in their communications networks. Due to the use of multiple layers of encryption, nodes on networks like this do not usually know the ultimate sender or receiver of the data.

In computer networking darknets can and do have some cut out functionality. Darknets are distinct from other distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) networks as sharing is anonymous (that is, IP addresses are not publicly shared and nodes often forward traffic to other nodes). Thus, with a darknet, users can communicate with little fear of governmental or corporate interference. For this reason, darknets are often associated with dissident political communications, as well as various illegal activities.

Cut-out

Cut-out, cutout, or cut out may refer to:

See also

Axial cut

An axial cut is a type of jump cut, where the camera suddenly moves closer to or further away from its subject, along an invisible line drawn straight between the camera and the subject. While a plain jump cut typically involves a temporal discontinuity (an apparent jump in time), an axial cut is a way of maintaining the illusion of continuity. Axial cuts are used rarely in contemporary cinema, but were fairly common in the cinema of the 1910s and 1920s.

An axial cut can be made with the use of a zoom lens, or physically moving the camera with a crane or camera dolly. The intervening footage (as the camera moves or zooms) is then removed while editing the film. Since footage is discarded, this technique works better for static shots. If action is involved, several takes will be required to get the necessary footage.

Alternatively, a multiple-camera setup can be used, with the cameras showing the subject at different sizes. The footage from both cameras is then edited together to create the effect. As the cameras cannot occupy the same space, there will always be a slight deviation from the axis. Moving the cameras further away from the subject and using telephoto lenses can reduce the deviation.

Cut-out (philately)

In philately a cut-out is an imprinted stamp cut from an item of postal stationery such as a postcard, letter sheet, aerogramme or wrapper and used as a normal stamp.

In Great Britain the postal use of cut-outs was banned under the Post Office Act of 1870. This prohibition was in force until 31 December 1904. In 1905, Herbert L'Estrange Ewen published a booklet "The Unadhesive Postage Stamps of the UK" meaning postal stationery cut-outs.

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