Terms and Definitions of Design Communication | ARTS 102, Study notes of Art

Download Terms and Definitions of Design Communication | ARTS 102 and more Study notes Art in PDF only on Docsity! Visual Communication e-Book_ARTS 102 Closure A concept of Gestalt psychology that states that incomplete but recognizable forms will be seen as complete. Containment Picture plane. There will be an established relationship among design elements when they share a common boundary. Continuation A real or implied line or edge that continues from one form to another, allowing the viewer’s eye to move smoothly through the composition. Continuity Visual elements that require the fewest interruptions will be grouped to form a continuous straight or curved lines. Gestalt A German theory of psychology meaning essentially that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Harmony Combining elements to create a pleasing and consistent composition. Proximity The degree of closeness in the placement of elements in an image. Repetition Repeating parts of an element of the design will relate the various parts to each other. Any design element can repeat to achieve this unity. Similarity Visual elements that are similar tend to be seen as related. Unity Unity, also referred to as harmony, is a state where a degree of agreement exists among the different elements of the artwork, a pleasing combination of parts that make up a whole composition. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Visual Communication e-Book_ARTS 102 2 Accent - A subsidiary focal point or any emphasis given to an element to counterbalance the main emphasis and provide variety. Focal point - A compositional device emphasizing a certain area or object to draw the viewer’s attention. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Visual Communication e-Book_ARTS 102 Common Contour - A contour line in common with two different images. Contour - A line used to follow the edges of forms and in doing so describe their outlines. Gesture Drawing - Line that records the movement, weight, posture, and general character of the subject at a single point in time. Here, line moves freely through the form, creating dynamic tension and movement as well as implying volume. Implied Line - An imaginary line created by positioning a series of points or short lines so that our brain joins them, such as a dotted or dashed line. Line Quality - A characteristic of line determined by its weight, direction, uniformity, or other feature. Lost and Found Edges - A description of a form in which an object is revealed by distinct contours in some areas and soft or areas faded into the ground in others. Psychic Line - A mental connection between two elements. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Visual Communication e-Book_ARTS 102 Abstraction - Natural shapes that are reduced to their most basic character. Curvilinear - Shapes based on the sinuous organic shapes found in nature. Distortion - An intentional alteration of the forms of nature, often manipulating conventional proportions. Figure - A positive shape, often a recognizable form. Ground - The unoccupied space in a composition, often termed as negative space. Naturalism - Imagery that successfully imitates the illusion of a three dimensional space and contour as we, the viewer, see it in nature. Negative Shape - The empty area left after positive elements have been created by the designer. Nonobjective - Shapes that refer to nothing but themselves. They have no subject matter other than pure form. Positive Shape - A figure or field against a ground; the implied solid mass in the composition. Rectilinear - Shapes or compositions that have hard edges, right angles, and rectangular forms. Shape - A two dimensional area distinct from background and other shapes, bounded by outline, value change, textural differences or color to create a visually perceived edge. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Visual Communication e-Book_ARTS 102 Space- The three-dimensional void that elements occupy; the empty area between elements. Flat Space- A space that has height and width only; usually represented by the picture plane itself. Shallow Space- The illusion of limited depth; the imagery is only a slight distance back from the picture plane. Deep Space- The illusion of great or unlimited depth; often a feature of landscapes. Can have some combination of foreground, middle ground and background. Overlap- A depth cue, in which some shapes are in front of and partially hide or obscure others. Shadow- The darker value on the surface of an object that is away from the source of light or obscured by another object. Aerial Perspective- The illusion of deep space in which distant objects appear to have less detail and contrast than objects in the foreground. Transparency- A visual quality in which an object or distant view can be seen clearly through a nearer object. Two forms overlap, but are seen in their entirety. Translucency- A visual quality in which objects, forms or planes transmit and diffuse light, but with a greater degree of opacity that does not allow clear visibility through the object. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS