ELEMENTS OF VISUAL DESIGNMARICRISTAPICERIA
Some photos work for some but not for others... WHY?Effective images are those that command attention and communicate feelings to an audience
How a viewer responds to an image depends on their past experiences, interests, and what it is that they are looking for.
This is why the same picture often receives a variety of responses from different viewers.The Elements of design are like the ingredients in a recipeLINESSHAPE (2D)/FORM  (3D)COLOUR AND VALUETEXTURE SPACE
LinesDirection and orientation of a line can imply feelingsA mark with length, width and direction; created by a point that  moves along a surface
LINESThree-dimentionalTwo-dimentional		A pencil line on a paperWire, string, and etc.
Line DirectionsHorizontal Lines (at rest)Vertical Lines (at attention)Imply tranquility, rest, and stability
Imply power and strengthLine DirectionsCurve Lines (dancing)Diagonal Lines (on the run)Imply action, change and dynamic energy
Imply quiet, calm, and sensual feelings.SHAPESWhen a line meets itself or crosses another line to surrounds a space, it creates shape
SHAPESORGANICGEOMETRICoften easy to recognise such as circles, squares and trianglesrepresent the free-flowing aspects of growth.  Organic shapes are often irregular shapes.
FORMAny threedimentional object, has height, width and depth. It also has mass and volume
FORMGEOMETRICORGANIC
ColoursColour affects humman beings. Men and women respind to colours differently.
Colour affects us emotionally, with different colours evoking different emotions.Analogous coloursColours that get along and are referred to as being harmonious.
Colours that are often used in visual design and have soothing effectComplimentary coloursExhibit more contrast when positioned adjacent to each otherColour SchemesA plan for selecting and organizing coloursWarm coloursCool colours
Warm ColoursYellows, reds, and oranges. We associate these with blood, sun and fire.
Cool ColoursViolets, blues and greens. With association to snow and ice
Colour Value-Lightness or darkness of a colourTINTS (lighter colours)SHADES(darker colours)
VALUE-created with shading and highlightsSHADINGGradual change from light to darkHIGHLIGHTSEmphasizes the brightest areas
TextureSurface quality or “feel” of an object- smooth rough soft, etc.
ACTUAL TEXTURETextures when we feel when we touch something
IMPLIED TEXTUREIllusion of of actual textures
INVENTED TEXTUREAbstract and symbolic
SPACECreating the illusions of three dimensions (depth) on a two dimentional surface.
UnityRefers to an ordering of all elements in an image so that each other can contribute to a unifiedaesthetic effecr so that image is seen as a whole
CoherenceBelonging together within the confines of colour, shapes, and size. Visual coherence can be achieved through similar shape, colour size or texture
Dominance or EmphasisCan be done through size, shape, and colour. Large objects dominate similar ones and war coloured objects dominate cooler coloured objects

Elements of visual design