Scribd
Upload
8 views15 pages

Elements of Graphic Design Explained

The document outlines the basic elements of graphic design, including line, shape, texture, space, size, value, and color. Each element is described in terms of its characteristics and uses in design, such as how lines can organize information and how color can evoke emotions. Additionally, the document discusses the color wheel and the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, as well as concepts like complementary and analogous colors.

Uploaded by

gourab89santra
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views15 pages

Elements of Graphic Design Explained

The document outlines the basic elements of graphic design, including line, shape, texture, space, size, value, and color. Each element is described in terms of its characteristics and uses in design, such as how lines can organize information and how color can evoke emotions. Additionally, the document discusses the color wheel and the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, as well as concepts like complementary and analogous colors.

Uploaded by

gourab89santra
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Graphic Design

The basic elements


• Line
• Shape
• Texture
• Space
• Size
• Value
• Colour
Lines
• Mark connecting 2 points
– Straight, curved, fat, thin, squiggly, dashed, patterned
• Used to
– Organise information
– Highlight
– Connect
– Outline
– Create grid, chart or graph
– Create pattern or rhythm trhough many lines
– Direct reader’s eye
– Create sense of motion
– Suggest emotion
Shape
• Has height and width
• Geometric
– Circles, triangles, squares: regular, structured
– Good building blocks for graphic design
• Natural
– Animals, plants, humans
– Irregular, fluid
• Abstract
– Icons, stylized figures, graphic illustrations
Shape
• Used to
– Symbolize an idea
– Highlight information
– Make text or photo more interesting
through masking
• Angular - masculine
• Curved - feminine
Texture
• Look or feel of a surface
• Gives overall ‘feel’ to something
• Provokes emotions
• Adds richness and depth
Space
• Distance around or between things
• Separates or unifies, highlights, provides rest
for eye
• Especially white space
– Used to add emphasis and focus
– Adds legibility
– Stylistic
– White space is in
• Margins, paragraph spacing, line spacing, gutters (space
between columns), around text, graphics
Size
• How large or small something is
• Larger items more important
• Attracts attention
• Adds contrast betwee elements
• Creates consistent theme
• Can be used to give impression of 3-d,
distance
Value
• How light or dark an area is
• Value used to
– Lead eye
– Create pattern
– Give illusion of volume or depth
– Add drama
– Emphasis
– Arrange objects in front or behind each other
Colour
• Combination of red, green, blue
• Used to
– Highlight
– Attract the eye
– Signal importance
– Create mood
– Tie elements together
– Organize, group
– Provoke emotion
Colour wheel
• Vsual representation
of colours based on
their chromatic
relationship
• Primary colours
– Cannot be created by
mixing others

• Secondary colours
– Mix of 2 primaries

• Tertiary
– Mix of primary and
secondary
More useful…..

• Complementary
– Colours opposite
• Work well in contrast to each other

• Analogous colours
– Close colours
• Variants on a theme
Active/passive colours
• Advancing hues are have
less visual weight than the
receding hues
• Most often warm, saturated,
light value hues are "active"
and visually advance
• Cool, low saturated, dark
value hues are "passive" and
visually recede
• Tints or hues with a low
saturation appear lighter
than shades or highly
saturated colors
• Some colors remain visually
neutral or indifferent
Colour and emotion

You might also like