Visual Literacy Forms of Visual Literacy * Caricature * Collage * Editorial cartoons * Prints * Comic strips * Graphics * Photos * Billboards * Paintings * Sketches * Posters * Advertisements Elements of Design and Composition 1. Unity How well do all of the elements, objects and words work together or complement one another? Unified Not Unified 2. Contrast the difference between colors and how it stands out for example, color versus black and white in a picture or a bright green object standing out in a very grey picture Color vs Black Contrast Black vs White Contrast
3. Balance how images and objects are placed in a visual so that the visual appears to be separated somewhat evenly. That doesn t mean 2 sides are exactly the same, but that the images are placed in such a way that the picture looks full and complete not lopsided to one side or another * Balanced makes you feel harmony, order and peace * Unbalanced creates tension and anxiety Balanced Unbalanced 4. Movement how images and objects are placed so that we look at it in a certain way. Images can make us look at an image slowly, a natural flow. Or, an image can be chaotic causing our eyes to look everywhere and not focusing on a certain pattern. It can also give us a feeling as if we can feel the movement of the images. Natural flow movement image Chaotic movement image
5. Emphasis how objects or color is used to highlight an area of the visual so that it stands out the most; our eye usually recognizes it first. Used to highlight the Focal Point of the piece Harmony * All the elements of a piece of art work together * The piece is visually satisfying * To discuss harmony, you must look at and explain the various components of Design and Composition and many of the terms we are going to learn throughout the unit
Font and Text * Many visuals contain text (words). The text is part of the whole presentation of the visual. How these words are presented is important. Font looks at the way the word is presented size of the lettering, colors used, is it underlined, bold or in italics? Does it use Times New Roman or some different font style? Is it written in a special way like with bubble letters or using word art? Text helps send a message, gives clarity to the visual and is often created in such a way as to catch the reader s attention. Color * Colors are used for a variety of reasons: - capture the reader s attention - establish a particular mood - provide contrast - create particular feelings about a product - enhances the ideas being expressed in the visual
Color Relationships how do colors create specific moods or feelings?
Visual Text Terms * Symmetry versus Asymmetry - Symmetry means that things are separated evenly - Asymmetry means things are not separated evenly * Background versus Foreground - Background images appear to be in the back of the visual or appear to be further away - Foreground images that are in the front of the visual or appear to be closer to us Bridge is in the background, bird is in the foreground
Men are in the foreground and are placed such that they are actually staggered; the city is in the background
* Angle - Low angle looking up at the image; shows importance - High angle looks down at the image; appears weak and vulnerable - Extreme high angle almost looks directly straight down Low angle shot High angle shot Extreme high angle shot
* Frame - The world is full of objects which make perfect natural frames, such as trees, archways and holes. - By placing these around the edge of the composition you help to isolate the main subject from the outside world. - The result is a more focused image which draws your eye naturally to the main point of interest. * Lighting different lighting effects or colors can create different meanings - soft, yellow light create halo effects and suggest innocence - light can be overexposed to suggest heat or underexposed to create coolness - back lighting makes images appear threatening or superior - Front lighting focuses light on the front of the image Light at the back Light on the front
* Shadow a unique way to work with light to create images in a visual * Dominant Image the strongest focal point of a piece of work stands out the most * Focal Point the image our eyes move to first; where we focus our attention * There are 2 dominant images the dog and the alien
* The focal point may change with people s perceptions. For me, the focal point is the dog because the color catches my eye first, instead of the alien * Focus items can be in focus or out of focus. Foregrounds and backgrounds can be out of focus to help us pay attention to the main subject Foreground is blurred; background is focused Foreground is focused; background is blurry * Line There are 5 types of lines and each creates a specific effect 1. Vertical lines up and down with no slant; give appearance of height
2. Horizontal lines move from left to right and give the feeling of rest or peace
3. Diagonal lines on a slant; shows movement and instability like falling
4. Curved lines often have a pleasing and soft feel 5. Zigzagged lines - slanted and connected; show excitement and action * Perspective creating the illusion of a 3D view of objects by intersecting lines, careful spacing of different size objects, and an illusion of depth
* Scale how big or small elements of a visual are in relation to other elements in the visual * Proportion how parts of an element are created to look like they are in proportion to the entire element. For example, if we are drawing a face, we want to make sure the eyes, nose and mouth look like the right size for the face. We don t want a giant nose or wide mouth.
* Composition * composition looks at where images are placed in a visual to create a desired effect. * There are many rules of composition but several rules you should recognize are below. Composition Rules Rule of Thirds - Imagine that your image is divided into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. The rule of thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect. Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Rule of Negative Space empty space in a photo that makes you focus on the subject or object
Rule of Patterns both natural and man-made patterns help create eye catching images Rule of Reflections an image is reflected elsewhere, creating an optical illusion. It works best when the reflection is NOT in the middle of the visual