Visual Techniques

http://collider.com/the-iron-lady-movie-trailer/130968/

sharpness
asymmetry
variation
transparency
simplicity

http://www.unstage.com/2010/02/150-creative-movie-posters/#!prettyPhoto

boldness
exaggeration
depth
randomness
variation
complexity

For the first poster graphic interprets the basic information of the movie. Even though I have not seen this movie I can conclude that it is about a historical woman in London. By using the city outline of London on one side and the image of the actor Meryl Streep this graphic creates visual interest. The sharpness on the points of the building give the feeling of harsh and hard on the graphic, the tagline, "Never Compromise", indicate a very dictatorial role. Looking into The Iron Lady, I found that this film was based on the Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister of the UK during the 1970's. With this graphic you get an idea of the setting and character that are portrayed on in this movie. For the Inglourious Basterds movie poster the various characters are displayed on the graphic. Comparing it to The Iron Lady poster also give that poster a feeling of power in the single character shown.  The use of various characters gives a complexity to the graphic that makes the viewer look closer to examine all the the different people on the poster. Using red in various parts of the graphic also give it a boldness all around the poster. Using scale also gives a sense of importance in characters, like actor Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent. Depth is displayed in the title, using a black background under the red title gives it a sense of three dimensions.  

Contrast

http://chasemor.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/on-to-bad-graphic-design/

This is an example of a website with a lack of contrast in its design. The use of the background creates an unappealing design. The "confusion and ambiguity" makes this webpage ineffective. The repetitious background causes for the viewer to not be able to identify the features like the content on the webpage.
"Ambiguity is its natural enemy and must be avoided if the process of seeing is to function properly" (Dondis). If the text in the page had a solid color background  behind it this design could be more efficient. In the headline of the webpage "Mama's Cheesies" is much easier to read because it has a solid color background behind it. The absences of contrast and repetitious nature cause for this to be a failure in design.

http://shop.tangyauhoong.com/product/autumn-s-fall

This graphic created by Tang Yau Hoong is a good example of contrast. This technique sharpens the image in a well defined and creative graphic. To create a balance between contrast and harmony, Tang had to use different tones in color to separate the background from the foreground.  In this image you can see that the empty space is just as important in creating this graphic as the patterns created from color are. The scale used in the different patterns also cause for contrast in the shapes. "The contrast of tone is as vitally important as the presence of light in the process of seeing. Through tone, we can perceive patterns that we simplify into objects with shape, dimension, and other elemental visual properties" (Dondis).  By creating polarities between the the tonal patterns Tang Yau Hoong was able to create a more complex meaning into his work.

Implied Motion

http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/

This is an example of a storyboard for a scene in a movie or TV show. The designer faced problems of clearly depicting the motions that the camera needs to make. Another issue that comes with this design is showing the motions that the characters must make in each shot. The different boxes that are presented follow a story and it is important to read them correctly or the story might become lost to the reader. By using arrows, this design implied motion to the action of the characters and motions of the camera. Also for the characters motion the use of motion streaks are create to suggest motion. The viewer is guided from left to right of the page because the boxes are numbered and the use of arrows. To also convey motion the background images in each box are different referring that the character had to have moved from point a to point b.

http://visualgraphic.tumblr.com/

In this design motion is also implied and created. For the user to move through this graphic they much read from the top left to right, moving down and across back to the left. The use of variation in scale helps create motion and focuses the attention of the user. In this graphic arrows are also used to create motion but not all to help guide motion. For this graphic the problem occurs when arrows face the opposite direction the reader is intended to read the words. By using 2D in some words it creates the sense of forward motion. The word “around” also creates its own for of motion because of its swirl design type. The arrow under “once in a while” gives the implied motion of a circular movement.

Dimension/Depth/Space/Scale

http://cargocollective.com/VTDESIGN/Graphic-Design-Is

Some visual cues that we have learned about are present in this graphic design. By using cues of depth space and scale in this graphic they have created a different sense of perception for the viewer.  Interposition or overlapping helps the viewer develop a sense of depth. Shadow convergence behind the blocks give the perception of relative space. The use of different size blocks creates cues of distance. Aerial perspective or “distance fog” is used in this graphic design by using darker colors like the dark blue and black blocks to send to the background while the red and lighter blue are features that are brought more to the foreground. The size of text also create a sense of scale and size. By using larger blocks at the top of the graphic the viewer uses that as a familiar size and use it as a reference for comparison. The growing spaces between the blocks create a sense of dimension as well.

Tone and Color

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lcq3awdx9U1qc2eojo1_r1_500.jpg

How TONE is operating

• Most of our textural experience is optical, Donis tells us.
• In this example, tone creates texture by the various tone values.
• By mixing black and white it creates gray tones that also give the image texture.
• The smear-like method gives depth with the light and dark tones. 

http://www.manydesign.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Poster-Design-001.jpg

How TONE is interacting

• Tone is interacting with dimension by using darker red behind the white type.
• By using the various tones of red it creates dimension.
• As Donis explains, the use of tone gives us this perspective by creating “the sensation of reflected light and cast shadows” or "chiaroscuro".

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzetvrooRu1qaz991o1_500.jpg

How COLOR is operating

• Color is operating through color coding.
• As Ware explains, color is used to create visual distinctions between one another.
• Color “stands for” the different  things that “people at the ’10 Items or Less” line at the supermarket have”.

http://a1.s6img.com/cdn/0008/p/1646438_1528843_b.jpg

How COLOR is interacting

• In this image color is interacting with line by creating them through different colors.
• The use of the colors black and yellow help to separate the yellow background from the black lines created.
• The space between the black colored lines show how color creates visual interaction with the yellow color.
• In this example it also confirms that line describes shape as Donis had suggested.

Visual Communications Basic Elements: Movie Posters

Tone

http://buildingatlantis.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/black-swan-movie-review/

In this poster for the movie Black Swan there is an example of the basic element of tone. Without "tone information" this image would not have dimension. In this image the white ballerina inside the black swan is given an illusion of dimension and depth because of the "variations in light". With the use of black and white you can see "the juxtaposition of tone, the intensity of darkness or lightness". Without a white background surrounding the black swan it would be impossible to distinguish between the background and swan.

Color

http://collider.com/movie-poster-rolling-roadshow-2010-there-will-be-blood-dirty-harry-jackie-brown-robocop-olly-moss-movie-poster/41535/

In this poster of the movie Dirty Harry, we can see an example of the basic element of color. When using color it is important to know that it "has stronger affinity to the emotions".  In color there are many factors like hue, saturation and achromatic that affect the way we see. By using color we can direct viewers into "associating meaning" and evoke a feeling to them. With color we are able to create a larger vocabulary in visual literacy by being able to have symbolic meaning for the various different colors.

Dimension

http://collider.com/new-teaser-poster-for-inception/12977/

In this poster for the movie Inception, we can see an example of the basic element of dimension. To create a "representation of dimension in two-dimensional visual formats is also dependent on illusion". This illusion is created by using perspective. With the help of the basic element of tone we can establish dimension with "dramatic emphasis of light and shade". In this image we can use the visual clues of scale and tone to establish dimension. 

Puzzles

 For this puzzle the goal was to find all the various squares. For me the first squares I saw were the smaller ones which there were five of so I outlined them, for my friend Alex he didn't notice the one square that was not with the others (maybe because the four were in a group). Continuing to outline I then saw the larger square containing all the smaller squares inside and from there connected the rectangles on the outside of the larger square to create four more squares. Alex followed lines mentally compared to my strategy to outline.

The counting squares puzzle works with pattern-seeking. Because I used black and white ink instead of color it gave us a disadvantage at find the correct number of squares. With the use of colors and various sizes it creates distracting surroundings. By not having color it was easier to miss the differences but by following the lines it was easier to find the pattern.

In this puzzle we had to visually find out which spiral had two different ropes without tracing or touching the page. Both of us were able to follow the lines of the spiral to see that the one on the left is only one rope. For me I found it easier to find this by starting on the inside and work my way into the spiral.

This is an example of dynamic structures. By using motion visually we are working out “kinesthetic imagery”.

Feature Hierarchies

"Pop-Out" Effect

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mce3g4je511qf6477o1_500.jpg

Feature Hierarchy in Visual Queries

All three of these images are CD covers of some of my favorite bands. In all of these are examples of feature hierarchy and visual queries.

http://www.freecodesource.com/album-covers/B004IDV2KC--hoobastank-is-this-the-day-album-cover.html

The Hoobastank “Is this the Day?” album cover uses a sort of pathway in its design. First the use of color contributes to directing the viewer’s eyes. By using a gradient of gray in the left center, an infinity sign “pops-out” which in fact is Hoobastank’s logo. Also by using this color, it directs eye movement from that point and onto the right side. By following the shape of the letters in its spatial layout the eye is able to see the form of a guitar.  

http://www.lyricspond.com/artist-mute-math/album-reset

For the Mutemath album cover I found myself looking at the top title then towards the middle down to the bottom and back up again. I realized that in this design there were three points that caused this eye movement. From the top left corner my eyes follow from left to right where you can see the band name Mutemath in its full extended and elongated form filling the top portion of the cover, from there my eyes continue to the right middle towards the silhouette of a city which is created with various shapes and defined by a darker orange color to contrast the background. Finally my eyes go back to the left into the bottom corner where again color and patterns establish contrast, here we see the name of the album “Rest”. Solving the reason for my eye movement I was able to find the pattern (pattern finding) and realized the entire album forms the shape of a triangle.   

http://www.cdstarts.de/kritiken/88139-Incubus-Light-Grenades.html

In this Incubus “Light Grenades “album cover color is an obvious contribute to feature hierarchy. By using the color red, the eyes create a bias and makes all that one color stand out. This bias directs the eye to find more red. By outlining the band name and filling the title of the album in red we can quickly identify them. Were as, though the largest portion of the design, the grenade in the center does not stand out as much because it is black and white and is overlooked by the red heart in the center of it.

Top Down

Being a visual communications major I chose a graphic image called Day-vs-Night created by Tang Yau Hoong. Using positive and negative space, this is a great example of Top-down visual processing.  The two different colors of black and yellow create eye movement for the viewer. Though the yellow background demands the attention the most, other factors in color direct the viewer’s eyes elsewhere. The blue color creates a bias in favor of signals to help amplify the color.  In using the color blue on both birds it “increases amplification” to focus the viewer’s eyes to both locations. The jagged edge patterns give visual information to the viewer which is then combined with nonvisual concepts to help the viewer perceive that the pattern creates trees in both the day and night.  

http://shop.tangyauhoong.com/product/day-vs-night

Syntactical Guidelines

http://readymade99.com/portfolio/childrenshopetransposter.html

The picture above is an example of bad design. With the use of color, scale and motion it is hard to focus on this graphic. The bright yellows throughout this design cause a bit of eye strain to the viewer which makes it difficult to read. The amount of information causes the scale of the lettering to be small and harder to read and makes "the eye must struggle to analyze" (Dondis, 28) the information causing ambiguity. The arrow in the top center causes the reader to focus on it with the intent to follow movement but it is not bring the reader to the important information given.

http://maptohealth.tumblr.com/post/21330358446/protein-your-diet-great-sources-of-protein

This information design layout above is an example that follows good syntactical guidelines. Using horizontal-vertical constuction this graphic creates balance. Without having to be abtained unconsciously, this design visually creates a felt axis. Following the "scanning pattern that responds to the left-lower perceptual pull" makes it easy to understand the information given (Dondis, 29). The colors used do not cause strain and are used to supply more information in grouping. 

This image is a visual representation of the economy. Colors of red, orange, yellow and white cover the background to create a sunrise coming from the right corner. In front of the sunrise is the silhouette of three men in suits and ties and two women in skirts and blazers to reflect business-like attire. These five individuals are all pulling up the symbol of American dollars, an “s” with a line through the top and bottom of it. The American dollar sign is hanging over a cliff while the five people are pulling a rope, making it seem like they are playing tug-a-war.

Responses or feelings

1.    Hope

2.    Struggle

3.    Heavy

4.    Business people

5.    Men out-weigh women in business

Symbols

1.    Dollar sign= money

2.    Men and women= citizens

3.    Sunrise= hope/ new beginning

Underlying compositional structure

This image contributes to creating the feeling of hope because the sunrise in the background denotes a new beginning or hope. The dollar sign being larger than the men and women denote that it is heavy and hard to handle. The men and women silhouettes give the thought that it takes all men and women to work together to create a better economy.

Wk 3 Interactions Between the 3

http://chasingdelicious.com/kitchen-101-produce/

Representational: This is a representation to show “visual information” of when fruits are in season throughout the year. This graph gives an interpretation or representation of information to the viewer to better understand and to be used for reference when it is the best time to buy and eat certain fruits. This representation abstracts into symbols used for expressive and communicative purposes.

Abstract:  This is an abstract graph reduced to use the “basic elements” of pie charts in the form of its shape. For the viewer it gives the outline of the circular cycle that the year forms.  This abstraction is more towards symbolism than “pure abstraction” because it has meaning and still bears “representational information”.

 Symbolic: The symbols in this graph are the written language and words used to describe the months and fruits being synthesized also the graphic in the center which is a logo of the company that produced this image. For the viewer, the symbol is the “transmission of information” that helps explain the graph.  The symbols are “information-packed” to give communicative purpose to the representation.

Meaning

http://arseniccupcakes.tumblr.com/

This hairstyle is representational because it gives the viewer a visual appearance of a flower. The level of categorizing would be considered a generic flower.  Though there is a level of detail, this representation is not detailed enough to be a specific type of flower. The design captures expressive style and functional purpose. Expressively, this hairstyle gives a whimsical and nature-centered feeling. For functional purposes, this hairstyle is a convenient way to get hair up and out of the way.

http://www.coolhunting.com/style/history-industry-jewelry.php

This necklace is an abstraction derived from royal accessories of ancient empires. It is an abstraction because the designer was able to reduce concepts of the representation with basic shapes, colors and tones. This abstraction also derives from the same function as the royal accessories. As royal accessories were jewelry the designer was able to keep that same function with creating this necklace. Stripped down, these less expensive materials of wood and acrylic also make it an abstraction of the representational accessories.  It communicates to the viewer a sense of bold simplicity with its simple geometric shapes and bright colors.

http://msjosnowy.tumblr.com/

The use of the two “c” is symbolic because it signifies language characters.  This trademark symbol denotes a product line. The product line is Coco Chanel.  With its luxurious handbags, Chanel’s symbol is famous. Though famous this logo is culture-dependent. Luxury comes with a price and not all cultures would be able to understand the reasoning for the logo.