Static Images – The Elements of a Poster

Static Images aim to CAPTURE ATTENTION

This is achieved by using a variety of VISUAL and VERBAL features and combining them to

DELIVER A MESSAGE or KEY IDEA

Look at this image …

Closely…

Write down the first 3 things you can remember about the image

What Colours? What Images? What Words? What Ideas?

What captured your attention?

Visual Features of a Static Image…

COLOUR

Exaggerated, bright colours lead you to think this movie could be a

fantasy/magical film

The colour pink reinforces that this film is targeting females. Pink is a colour that

represents fun.

What do you notice about repeated colour in this image?

Yellow in the font matches the yellow in the warrior’s singlet.

White and blue lettering matches the colours of the image.

Colour can also be a symbol…

Why has the designer selected red for this poster? What does it symbolise?

There is also an ALLUSION in this image – can anyone recognise it? (Note: an allusion is where the creator uses the knowledge that people already have to make links and imply messages)

The fingerprint replacing the letter ‘O’ is an allusion.

It plays on the idea that the audience will associate fingerprints with crime. It therefore gives us a hint about the movie and it’s genre

Layout & BalanceDon’t be afraid to have deliberate blank space – it can help balance your poster and make it visually pleasing.

The Rule of Thirds..

The focus image should not be central, but in one of the ‘third’ spaces. This makes the static image more aesthetically pleasing. In this image, it draws our attention upwards.

What do you notice about the balance and layout of this image?

• Large figure on the left is balanced by the block of writing on the right• Dominant image is off-centre, rule of thirds

Lines…

The use of lines in a static image can direct the viewers eye across the image towards central images or words

Cropping

Don’t be afraid to crop your images and align them to the edges of the page…

Symbolism…

What might the lightbulb symbolise?

What does the skull symbolise?

What about the crutches?

VERBAL FEATURES OF A STATIC IMAGE

• Your VERBAL features must link to the VISUAL features that you choose. They must complement each other.

Verbal features can be used to ATTRACT ATTENTION, DELIVER A MESSAGE or to

CONVEY AN IDEA

Alliteration

• The repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words.

Metaphors or Similes• Metaphor - A direct comparison between two things where

one thing is said to be another.• Simile - A comparison using "Like" or "as"

Repetition• Repeating certain words,

phrases or images• This helps to CAPTURE

ATTENTION and make the poster MEMORABLE

Second-Person Pronouns• Using the pronoun you.• Makes the viewer fell they are being addressed personally.

Pun• A play on words where a word or phrase has

two meanings.

Rhetorical Question

• Is a question that is asked in order to make a point and without the expectation of a reply.

• It makes the reader ACTIVE and makes them THINK about what the image is saying

Emotive Language• Language which is charged with emotion• Language deliberately designed to arouse the emotions.

QuotesUsing a quote from a book or film can be used to convey a

key idea or message

“Just because I like ballet doesn't mean I'm a poof, you know”

“I don't want a childhood. I want to be a ballet dancer”

“All right for your Nana, for girls. No, not for lads, Billy. Lads do football... or boxing... or wrestling. Not friggin' ballet”