Chapter 3 - Fundamentals Of Graphics Design

Formal Elements 

The formal elements of art, also called the visual elements, are the basic units and the means artists use to create and design works of art.

Some formal elements are point, line, shape, space, value (light and dark), color and texture. With these simple elements an artist can create whole worlds of visual experience.

Line

Many paintings appear to contain no lines. Painted figures and objects have edges, however, and these are called contours or contour lines. Notice the vertical contours of the pillars, the horizontal and diagonal contour lines of the patterned floor and the many and varied curvilinear contours of the clothed figures.

 Many paintings appear to contain no lines. Painted figures and objects have edges, however, and these are called contours or contour lines. Notice the vertical contours of the pillars, the horizontal and diagonal contour lines of the patterned floor and the many and varied curvilinear contours of the clothed figures.

•A line is a mark made by a tool as it is drawn across a surface.
•The tool can be almost anything such as a pencil, a pointed brush, a computer and mouse, even a cotton swab.
•Also, a line is defined as a moving dot or point, or can be called an open path.

Shape

A shape is an enclosed two-dimensional area distinguished from its surroundings. Notice the geometric shapes that are formed by the edges of objects and figures in this painting. 

The stance of the soldier on the left forms a triangle, as does the seated woman on the right. The column on the right and the space between the column and the wall form polygons.

•The general outline of something is a shape, also defined as a closed form or closed path. It is a 2-dimensional line with no form or thickness.

Value

Value refers to the relative lightness or darkness of pigments. This black and white (also called gray-scale  image) of the painting shows the range of values the artist used to create this work. 

The light values in the soldier's cloak and the swords and the dark values in the background are clearly visible.

•Value describes the lightness or darkness of a visual element.

Color

Frequently it is the colors in a painting that first attract your attention. I have used red in the cloak and tunic of two figures in this painting to direct your eyes to the most important figures. The reds seem even brighter because of the browns, tans and grays that surround them.

•Diagram/additive color system
–When working with light, the three primaries are red, green, and blue.
–Primaries are also called the additive primaries because, when added together, they create white light.
–The color system of white light is called the additive color system.

Texture 

The actual surface of this painting is relatively smooth. It has little texture.

•The tactile quality of a surface or the representation of such a surface quality is a texture.
–Tactile textures are real; we can actually feel their surfaces with our fingers.
–Visual textures are illusionary; they simply give the impression of real textures.

Pattern

•Pattern can be defined as a repetitive arrangement of elements, like a wrapping paper design or a plaid shirt.

Balance

Balance is a key feature in designing. You have to equally distribute the weight of your project.A balanced composition can be symmetric or asymmetric.

An Asymmetrical picture

When you arrange dissimilar or unequal elements of equal weight on the page, it is called asymmetry.

A Symmetric picture

This image has symmetrical balance because it contains objects of the same weight and size on each side. One side of the woman in the picture is mirrored on the other side.

Emphasis

The arrangement of visual elements giving stress or importance to some visual elements.

• Information to be gleaned easily.
• The graphic design to be easily received.
• The part of a design that is most accentuated.

How to create emphasis:

• Use a series of evenly spaced, square photographs next to an outlined photograph with an unusual shape. 
• Put an important piece of text on a curve or an angle while keeping all of the other type in straight columns. 
• Use bold, black type for headings and subheads and much lighter text for all other text. 
• Place a large picture next to a small bit of text. 
• Reverse (use white type) a headline out of a black or colored box. 
• Use colored type or an unusual font for the most important information. 
• Put lists you want to highlight in a sidebar in a shaded box.

Example of emphasis picture