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 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.
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.
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.
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