Visual Composition

By: Anna Rasmussen

Elements of Design:Line

A line is a form with width and length but no depth. You can have horizontal lines, vertical lines, or

diagonal lines.

Lines can show movement, suggest rhythm, create textural results, and can indicate emotional effects.

http://www.sitepoint.com/elements-of-design-the-line/http://jasminelovegonzales.blogspot.ca/2012/09/elements-of-design_14.htmlBy looking up element of design line.

Shape (2D)

Shapes can be bordered by lines and can be defined by color, texture or tone. It can also suggest movement or emotions. The shape can also be positive or negative.

Meaning the shape itself is the positive space, and the space surrounding the shape both inside, and out is the negative space. There are three types of shapes: Geometric, natural, and abstract.http://www.resourcesforteaching.co.uk/2d-shapes-ks1-145-p.

asp

https://www.dominie.com.au/products/YI-77436

Form (3D)Form can be measured top to bottom, side to side, and front to back. Form is also defined by light and dark. Form can be created by joining two or more shapes together.

Forms can also be illustrated or constructed. You can hold a form, walk around a form and in some cases walk inside a form.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/shape_space/3d_shapes/revision/2/

http://isikdogan.blogspot.ca/2010/10/elements-of-design-form.html

Color

Color has the ability to affect the human nervous system. There are different vocabulary words for color, which are: • Hue • Value • Intensity • Monochromatic color• Analogous colors • Complementary colors

Warm colors include: Yellows, red & orange. Cool colors include: Violet, blue and green.

http://painting-course.com/296/color-theory/warm-and-cool-colors/

http://dimeonadime.com/web/2011/08/using-the-color-wheel-to-dress-like-a-stylist/

TextureTexture is more or less the surface quality of an object. Texture is created by varying the pattern of light and dark on the surface. Textures can be rough, smooth, or a certain pattern.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34891893@N08/5610272243/

http://forums.popphoto.com/showthread.php?609985-Element-of-Design-Texture

Depth (Perspective)

• Size & Vertical Locationo The easiest way to show depth is to vary the size of objects.

They appear smaller when more distant, and larger when closer.

• Overlapping o We see objects as further away when they’re covered by

other objects in front of them.

http://depositphotos.com/3989808/stock-illustration-Overlapping-Arrows.html

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~dcs34/tetc545/c/sp.htm

Depth (Perspective) Continued…• Detail (Aerial or Atmospheric

Perspective)o Atmospheric perspective uses color and

value contrasts to show depth. Further away objects may fade away in the background, or simply just have less color to them.

• Linear Perspective (Converging Lines)o All lines will converge on a common point

on the horizon called the vanishing point. Artists use linear perspective to create a focal point for a picture.

http://miriadna.com/preview/555

http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/3832/3924989/getstart/two_d.html

Light

Light and dark areas within an image provide contrast that can suggest volume. Light coming from behind a subject can form a silhouette resulting in object that is completely black against a lighter colored background.

http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/structures-patterns-textures/

http://9bytz.com/shadow-photography/

Direction (Motion)

Because we can’t legitimately show motion in a single picture, we have to rely on the direction of the person or object in a photo. • Anticipated Movement • Fuzzy Outlines• Multiple Images• Optical Movement• Optical Illusions• Rhythm and Movement

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/20-motion-blur-photos-that

Direction (Motion) Continued…• Anticipated MovementLive things showed in an unstable position shows that movement is occurring.• Fuzzy OutlinesWhen an object moves past us at a very high speed, we see it as blurry, so when a blurry picture is taken of a moving object, we see it as motion. • Multiple ImagesShowing multiple overlapping images shows that the person has moved many times during the shot.

http://gadgetphotoreview.com/camera-shutter-speed-is-limited-movement-photography/.html

Directions (Motion) Continued…• Optical MovementIn optical movement your eyes are forced to move around the picture to see all the different elements.• Optical IllusionThe way shapes are placed in a certain picture makes your eyes move around as if something is moving when no motion is present. • Rhythm and MovementRhythm refers to the way your eye moves throughout a picture.

http://www.moillusions.com/2011/04/psychedelic-screen-melt-illusion.html

Mass (Visual Weight)Mass equals size. Each element within the design have their own mass relative to the whole piece.

In this picture the man’s face and how his muscles are flexing shows that the weight is very heavy.

In this picture the leaves are thrown up into the air and are being blown away by the wind showing that the leaves are very light.

http://www.mylot.com/w/image/1859059.aspx

http://themangoandthejayhawk.blogspot.ca/2011_11_01_archive.html

Tone (Black and White)

The various degrees of lightness or darkness.• ShadeA color hue with black added • TintA color hue with white added• Tone A color hue with grey added• Value The degree of lightness or darkness in colors

http://www.enjoyart.com/single_posters/horsephotos/RearingHorseSilhouetteSunsetSepiaTonePhotoArtPrint.htm

http://www.underworldmagazines.com/the-principles-of-design-for-the-web/

Value (Color)

Value refers to the relative lightness or darkness of a certain area. A light figure on a dark background will make the light figure center of attention; same goes for a dark figure on a light background. Areas of light and dark can also give a three-dimensional look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34891893@N08/5610267773/

http://curtvdl.com/space.html

Space (Positive and Negative)

Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground. It refers to the areas or distance around, between or within components of a piece. There are two types of space:• Positive• Negative

Positive space refers to the space of the object itself, while negative space refers to the space around and between the object.

http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/design-space/

http://www.ehow.com/list_7629408_elements-design-shape.html

Principles of Design:Balance

• Symmetrical In a design with only two elements they would almost be identical or have nearly the same visual mass.• Asymmetrical Off-center; and mismatched number of different elements. Balance the photo with many different small elements. Radial

Parts of the design must be arranged so that they are balanced across the width and length of the page. Typically radiate from or swirl around in a circular or spiral path.

http://www.pxleyes.com/photography-pictures/symmetrical/

http://www.pxleyes.com/blog/2011/10/analysis-of-25-topnotch-examples-of-mountain-photography/

EmphasisAKA: Dominance.Provides the focal point of the photo, and makes it stand out. By using:• Contrasting colors• Font• Image sizes• Etc…

http://www.photographersdirect.com/news/200605.asp

https://norwalk.digication.com/mesquivel/Color_Emphasis/published

Proportion (Scale)

Refers to the relative size and scale of an object in a design. It is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions.

http://markshaiken.com/2011/06/

http://wsebastian126.blogspot.ca/2009/08/proportion.html

Repetition (Rhythm/Pattern)Newsletters, magazines, brochures, annual reports, and books often have many visual elements:• Columns of texts• Headlines• Photos• Illustrations• Pull-quotes etc…

When all the text in a given article has a consistent look, including column width, it enhances readability.http://digital-photography-school.com/33-inspirational-images-that-feature-patterns-and-repetition

http://leannejohnson.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/elements-and-principles-of-design/

Unity• ProximityMake the object appear to belong together, and group them closely together.• RepetitionRepetition of color, shape, texture or objects can be used to tie a piece of work together. • ContinuationContinuation of line, edge or direction from one area to another.

http://www.pbase.com/image/70628467

http://digital-photography-school.com/33-inspirational-images-that-feature-patterns-and-repetition

ContrastWhen two elements are different. Common methods of creating contrast:• Size• Color• Value• TypeAdds interest to the page and provides a mean to show what’s important in the photo.

http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/954.aspx

http://photoshoptutorials.ws/other-tutorials/photography-tutorials/create-striking-photos-good-color-contrast/

Harmony Visually satisfying effect of combining similar, related elements.

http://skamnani94.blogspot.ca/2009/09/principles-of-design-harmony.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/brober

25/4719151253/

ProximitySpacing items according to their relation to each other. Related items should appear closer together than items that are not related.

http://www.queness.com/post/10347/six-gestalt-principles-in-web-design

http://www.l3analytics.com/2011/03/25/you-can-too-do-content-grouping-in-google-analytics/

Variety

To change the character of an element, to make it different.• Line – Thinness, thickness, value, color, angle,

length• Shape – Size, color, orientation, texture and type

Color – Hue, value, saturationValue – Darkness, lightness, high-key, low-key, value contrastTexture – Rough, smooth

http://annaereed.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/principles-of-design/

http://www.kinderart.com/drawing/creative.shtml