Visual CompositionElements of Design

The following images demonstrate the principle of line. Line is one of the basic elements of design and they can aid in organization, texture, appearance, readability, and message of a design. Line is used to give texture and make it seem as though the lines aren’t straight in the first image. Line is used to guide your eye to the highest point of the building from indoors and looking upward.

Line

- Searched optical illusionhttp://www.wallpapersstudio.com/data/media/19/curves_optical_illusion.jpg

-Searched complex lineshttp://farm3.staticflickr.com/2113/5814688727_8197766573_z.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of shape (2 dimensional). Shape is one of the basic elements of design and when alone or combined with other shapes or lines they explain various meanings, guide the eye, or organize information. There are three types; geometric, natural, and abstract shapes. Shape is used to guide your eye to the center of these various geometric shapes. Shape is used to guide your eye to the significant natural shape of a leaf.

Shape (2D)

- Searched for geometryhttp://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/images/picture%209.gif

- Searched for leaveshttp://muchmoreofhim.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-parable-of-autumn-leaves.html

The following images demonstrate the principle of form (3 dimensional). Form is the 3 dimensionality of an object while shape is only 2 dimensional. You can hold a form, walk around a form, and sometimes walk inside a form. Form is used to show how you can walk inside a form as shown in the hall way where you’re walking into a cube or cuboid. Form is used to guide the eye to the statue of the two people kissing in the second image.

Form (3D)

- Searched for hallwayhttp://bethesda-fellowship.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Hallway.jpg

- Searched for abstract statuehttp://www.worldbazaarimports.com/images/wb1099foreverlove.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of color. Color has the capacity to affect the human nervous system. Color includes hue; referring to the primary colors, value; lightness and darkness, and intensity; purity or saturation, and also included is monochromatic where only the value of a color changes. Color is used to show the analogous colors work together in the first image. Color is used to show the complementary colors work together in the second image.

Color

- Searched for analogous colorshttp://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/analagous.jpg

- Searched for complementary colorshttp://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/contestsubmissions/63580d1275501306-colors-colors-jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of texture. Texture is the visual or tactile surface characteristics of a piece and is always part of our designs, intentional or not. We can add textures through the arrangement of lines and shapes or by the use of photographic images of specific surfaces. Texture is created naturally in the first image, and is created man-made in the second image.

Texture

- Searched for striationshttp://0.tqn.com/d/denver/1/0/8/0/-/-/redrocks_striation.jpg

- Searched for sandpaperhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-KnA9P4FmY/T8YskSRp1eI/AAAAAAAACQg/woYVfeOztNQ/s1600/sandpaper.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of depth (perspective). Depth is when we look around us, some things seem closer, some further away. The illusion of depth can be shown through overlapping, size and vertical location, detail (aerial/atmospheric perspective), or linear perspective. Size and vertical location is used in the first image. Atmospheric perspective is used in the second image.

Depth (Perspective)

- Searched for cartoon penguinshttp://kootation.com/cartoon-characters-wallpapers-penguin-pictures.html

- Searched for atmospheric perspectivehttp://adamforfang.blogspot.ca/2011/11/atmospheric-perspective.html

The following images demonstrate the principle of light. Light an dark areas provide an image with contrast which can suggest volume. The factors that affect our feelings toward an image include the direction of the light source; from above or below, and the gentleness or abruptness of the half tones. Light can also form silhouettes. The first image is an example of how shadows can be casted from the light source at the bottom-right. The second image is an example of a silhouette when the light is behind the object.

Light

- Searched for shadowshttp://iliketowastemytime.com/2012/10/17/shadow-art-created-using-garbage-8-pics

- Searched for sunlighthttp://www.davidicke.com/images/stories/January20124/sunlight-vitamin-d.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of direction (motion). Direction doesn’t show motion in an image, tricks are used to perceive motion. They’re called anticipated movement, fuzzy outlines, multiple images, optical movement, optical illusions, and rhythm and movement. The first image uses an optical illusion where there’s repetition and geometric forms. The second image uses fuzzy outlines where the figure’s moving past at a high speed.

Direction (Motion)

- Searched for moving illusionshttp://www.doodlechallenge.com/movingillusions/020MovingIllusion.jpg

- Searched for racing carhttp://www.spare-wheel.com/files/images/Porsche-911-GT3-Cup-Race-Car-01.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of mass (visual weight). Mass is equal to size and each piece you create has physical mass. The physical mass or size is the actual dimensions of the piece; in height, width, thickness, weight, and depth. In the first image, weight and depth are perceived and the Earth is impossible to hold in your own hands. In the second image, weight is also perceived and you can tell feathers are light to the touch.

Mass (Visual Weight)

- Searched for earthhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pKFEEX6T1AU/S8S9RqSzYcI/AAAAAAAAACE/__q43tvl6nU/s1600/earth.gif

- Searched for feathershttp://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y4359E/y4359e0x.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of tone (black and white). Tone is related to value except that color or hue is unimportant. Tone is found as the juxtaposition of light and dark in its simplest form. Tone is more often defined as the intensity of lightness or darkness. Some terms tone uses are shade, tint, tone, and value. In the first image, tint and value are used. In the second image, shade, tone, and value are used.

Tone (Black and White)

- Searched for halftonehttp://depositphotos.com/7057094/stock-illustration-Random-halftone-colorful-background.html

- Searched for tinthttp://windowtintking.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Portland-Window-tint-.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of value. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of an area and can be used for emphasis. Variations of value are used to create a focal point; light figure on a dark background or vice versa. Gradations of value are used to create the illusion of depth. The surrounding darkness focuses your eyes toward the center in the first image. The corner light drags your eyes across to the brightness in the second image.

Value

- Searched for darknesshttp://stuffpoint.com/ddarkness/image/178081/city-in-darkness-picture/

- Searched for lightnesshttp://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/nov4_majaya_ttl.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of space (positive and negative). Space is the area provided for particular purposes , it may have either two or three dimensions, and consists of positivity or negativity. Space includes the background, foreground, and middle ground. It also refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of an image. Positive and negative space is perceived in both the first and second image.

Space (Positive and Negative)

- Searched for negative spacehttp://earthula.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/sky_and_water.jpg

- Searched for positive spacehttp://thebasicsbypaulbyrondowns.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/vellum1.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of balance. There are three types of balance. Symmetrical balance is in perfectly centered compositions or as a mirror image. Asymmetrical balance is off center or created with an odd or mismatched number of different elements. Radial balance is the element radiating from or swirling around in a circular or spiral path. The first image is an example of radial balance. The second image is an example between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance.

Balance

- Searched for radial balancehttp://farm4.staticflickr.com/3012/2861940371_8c02a0fa6e.jpg

- Searched for asymmetricalhttp://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/4b285f9f0cda451e0b35ac14f04bfc28/l.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of emphasis. Emphasis provides the focal point for an image. It makes the element that’s most important stand out and is sometimes called dominance. Emphasis can be done by changing font or image sizes, placing objects in the front, or using contrasting colors. The blue raspberry is highlighted and focuses the eye amongst the red ones in the first image. The green colored eye is highlighted amongst the grey toned background in the second image.

Emphasis

- Searched for dominancehttp://empa97.blogspot.ca/2012/10/unity-repetition-balance-rhythm.html

- Searched for emphasishttp://2spring2011.blogspot.ca/2011/02/color-emphasis_16.html

The following images demonstrate the principle of proportion (scale). Proportion is the relative size and scale of various elements and issues the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. Architectural spaces intended to impress are scaled to a size that dwarfs the viewer and is used in public places; churches or centers of government. It’s also applied to corporate spaces through which the enterprise wishes to impress people with its power and invincibility. The first and second image make everything further is small and in front is massive.

Proportion (Scale)

- Searched for hallwayhttp://wallpaperswide.com/hallway_bw-wallpapers.html

- Searched for proportionhttp://blogs.msdn.com/b/socaldevgal/archive/2007/06/24/accurate-proportion.aspx

The following images demonstrate the principle of repetition (rhythm). Repetition contains visual elements such as columns of text, headlines, photos, illustrations, pull-quotes, and much more. In repetition, people often expect to find sidebars, informational text, and other often repeated elements in the same place from page-to-page. The first image of the tapes are an example of repetition where each second column is the same. The second image of the newsletter is an example of repetition where the column width is the same size.

Repetition (Rhythm)

- Searched for patternhttp://littletreeblog.blogspot.ca/2011/07/tigerprint-male-pattern-competition.html

- Searched for newspaperhttp://theherofeed.com/1118/so-thats-what-the-guitar-hero-ii-newspaper-says/newspaper/

The following images demonstrate the principle of unity. Unity is a way to make objects in a piece seem as if they’re related to each other and can be shown in many ways. Proximity is where the objects are grouped close together allowing pattern. Repetition is where color, shape, texture, or object can be used to tie an image together. Continuation is where the line, edge, or direction continues from one area to another. The first image is an example of continuation and proximity. The second image is an example of proximity and repetition.

Unity

- Searched for continuationhttp://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/bnaya/archive/2011/12/28/tpl-continuation.aspx

- Searched for proximityhttp://www.timeoutofmind.com/images/bryce/bryce_large/close_proximity.jpg

The following images demonstrate the principle of contrast. Contrast occurs when two objects are different and the methods in creating it are by using the differences in size, value, color, and type. Contrast adds interest and provides emphasis to what’s important or to direct the eye. It aids in readability by making headlines and subheadings stand out, and by making small or lighter elements recede for more emphasis. Contrast is used in the first image to concentrate the eye on the girl. Contrast is used in the second image to focus on the silhouette.

Contrast

- Searched for emphasishttp://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3627/35166699.jpg

- Searched for contrasthttp://rebeccanorlingdigi2012s2.blogspot.ca/2012/07/contrast-research.html

The following images demonstrate the principle of harmony. Harmony is the visually satisfying effect of combining similar, related elements, such as adjacent colors and similar shapes. Harmony is used to help create a pleasing image in the principle of design by combining similar art elements. The first image uses harmony by using related type colors and grouping them together. The second image uses harmony by using similar light and dark colors to bring the piece together.

Harmony

- Searched for adjacent colorshttp://mosaicdesignservices.com/webgraphics/presentations/2007-02/adjacent.htm

- Searched for harmonyhttp://www.haleysonson.com/Harmony%20-%20WEB.JPG

The following images demonstrate the principle of proximity. Proximity creates visual structure and gives an image an organized feel by giving space to items according to their relation to another. Proximity means that related items should appear closer together than items that aren’t related. Spacing itself serves as a visual clue to what’s related and what’s not and as to where a piece of information stops and starts. The first and second image use proximity to group similar images together.

Proximity

- Searched for relationhttp://cdn4.techmaish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/build-relationship-with-bloggers.jpg

- Searched for proximityhttp://viosben.blogspot.ca/2010/09/heliconia-fake-bird-of-paradise.html

The following images demonstrate the principle of variety. Variety means to change the character of an element and to make it different. Variety is complement to unity and without it an image is dull and uninteresting. Ways to vary elements is to include line, shape, color, value, and texture. The first image uses variety by focusing on the frog compared to its background; there’s shades of green followed by yellows and oranges. The second image shows variety with the different ethnicities of faces.

Variety

- Searched for variationhttp://www.educationquizzes.com/ks3/science/variation-and-classification-01/

- Searched for unityhttp://www.thetippingpointsblog.com/2010/02/when-i-say-unity/