Contrast

Contrast is the difference between the color and the light between

images.

The color wheel is very essential

when it comes to contrast. It briefly

shows the colors that oppose each

other, creating an effect that seems

to appeal to people’s visuals. The

color wheel on the left shows the

primary and complimentary colors,

and has every contrast color laid out

in a format across each other.

In this picture, the flowers are

shown to be orange, appealing

onto red. The background flowers

also contain a pink top layer, which

clearly contrasts the stems and

leaves surrounding the flowers.

Green and red and contrast colors

on the color wheel and that are

the effect that is trying to be

created in this image. Blue and

orange are also contrasting colors,

so the effect continues throughout

the picture.

Contrast

Shapes can depend, they can be vertical, horizontal, geometric, organic,

soft, hard, coarse, smooth, and the key is to show the difference between them.

Repetition

Repetition is a technique used to repeat visual elements of the design throughout the product. You can repeat color, shape, texture, thickness, size, etc. This can be used to emphasize different topics/images to increase the attention of the viewer.

On left, is a picture formed with four

individual minimized pictures, which

are exactly the same. Joining these

four pictures together makes it look

like a huge piece, made of the same

designs! This is very effective as it

draws more attention to the viewer.

Typically, red is a color that is vibrant

and attracts a person’s eyes.

Repetition

On left is a very simple example of

everyday life uses of repetition.

These bricks are seen in almost

every single country on the street,

and they are basically one shape

of a brick, combined with more to

form a shape of repetition. Other

techniques used for this example

of repetition are changing the

color, which seems more

effective.

This picture displays straws which

are laid out next to each other.

Straws are the type of material

that contain the same lined shape,

so it is fairly easy to create some

repetition. The different colors of

straws are put together to show

contrast, while also showing

repetition.

Examples of repetition can all be

found below. On the side, this

picture contains a lot of repetition

as it has the different shapes of a

human, while also having the

different ripple of black and white

curving along.

Alignment

It is best to align images together when they have a connection.

Sometimes it is useful to create contrast- E.g.: Large images next to

smaller images, different shaped images that tie in together, and

images of the same color. When trying to create a professional and

sophisticated look, nothing should be placed at random.

A big example of alignment is shown above. Typically, it is best to

showcase pictures in this format, and it gives a good effect because it

gives equal space for every picture. The viewer will look at all the

pictures from the same view because not one picture is bigger than

the other, or in other words, not one picture is trying to be

emphasized more than others. This image can be easily linked to how

most yearbooks and various magazines are formatted, because in

yearbook pages the portraits of students have to be the same size. In

magazines, pictures are mostly laid out equally to the same size.

Alignment

This is an unusual example of

alignment. As you can see,

alignment is used with various

strategies, and for instance this

picture shows three different sized

planets placed aside each other,

biggest to smallest. Usually,

alignment consists of the

alignment of bordered pictures,

but in this case, an object has

been taken and placed unusually.

Proximity

Images relating to each other should be grouped close together.

When the same items are in close proximity to each other, it

becomes clear to the viewer about how close of a visual unit it is,

rather than different separate units. This helps organize information

and reduces clutter.

It is easy to identify when similar shapes, groups, objects and images are grouped together. Above are

two examples of proximity that can be used to ease up a viewer’s perspective. As mentioned before,

this is a combined unit versus separate units. In the first picture, there are three different units next to

a combined unit which creates a greater effect. As for the second picture, the separate units are

scattered, as the combined unit seems cleaner.

Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity = C.R.A.P

Using these principles of designs can allow you with a better product of any magazines, books, images, yearbooks, class photos etc. Combining them together can produce a greater

effect than separate use. These are simple techniques that can transform any regular image into a masterpiece.

By: Devina and Nabila