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Visual Literacy Student Resource (2)

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret and communicate visual information, essential for students. The document outlines the elements and principles of design, including line, shape, color, texture, space, balance, pattern, proportion, emphasis, contrast, movement, rhythm, unity, and perspective. Understanding these concepts enhances one's ability to create and analyze visual images meaningfully.

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4 views26 pages

Visual Literacy Student Resource (2)

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret and communicate visual information, essential for students. The document outlines the elements and principles of design, including line, shape, color, texture, space, balance, pattern, proportion, emphasis, contrast, movement, rhythm, unity, and perspective. Understanding these concepts enhances one's ability to create and analyze visual images meaningfully.

Uploaded by

bothanicholas0
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Visual

Literacy
A resource for students
Visual literacy refers to the ability to ‘read’ an image; to
see, to understand, and ultimately to think, create, and
communicate visual information. Images are all around us,
and the ability to interpret them meaningfully is a vital skill
for students to learn.
ELEMENTS
Elements are the building blocks or basic units
in the construction of a visual image.
Line is the most basic
element of design. It is
fundamental in the creation
of an image. There are four
basic lines that can be found
in an image.
Some are obvious and
others are implied.

Lines
Horizontal Lines
Vertical Lines
Diagonal Lines
Curved lines
They are 2 dimensional
enclosed areas that create
an outline. Examples are
circles, triangles and
squares. They can be
found anywhere in the
world.

Shapes and Forms


Colour is described by
three characteristics hue,
value and saturation.
Hue refers to the particular
spectrum of light
activated.
Value is the tonal degrees
of light and dark.
Saturation refers to the
levels of purity with the
spectrum of light
activated.
It shapes our perceptions
and shapes our emotions.

Colour
Texture refers to the
surface quality, the way it
feels or the way it looks.
This can be real or implied
by different uses of media.
It is the degree of
roughness or smoothness
in objects.

Texture
Space is either “positive”
or “negative” in an image.
Positive space is the main
subject in the visual, and
negative space is the rest
of the space in the same
visual. Negative space is
what is outside of the
positive space, or main
subject.

Space
PRINCIPLES
Design principles are used to organize the basic elements
of visual texts into pleasing and interesting images.
Balance refers to the sense of
distribution of perceived
visual weights that offset one
another.
We feel more comfortable—
and therefore visually
satisfied—when the parts of
an image seem to have
balance and be in harmony
with each other.
Imbalance gives a sense of
disharmony which is usually
not the intention of the
creator.
Balance and harmony can be
achieved through symmetry or
asymmetry, or by combining
similar related elements such
as color and shape. Sometimes
artists deliberately disturb our
sense of balance.

Balance & Harmony


Pattern is a combination of
elements or shapes repeated
in a predictable, recurring
and regular arrangement.
Pattern is used symbolically
to represent many things:
people, beliefs, the natural
world, history, tradition.
Colours and shapes have
specific meanings, and are
passed down from
generation to generation.
The predictability of pattern
is important in establishing a
historical tradition and
cultural practice.

Pattern
Proportion refers to the
size of objects in relation
to other objects in the
image. Proportion can be
used to draw attention to
an object, be playful
(make something look
bigger or smaller than it
is), all to make a point or
cause awareness. It
creates unity when all
parts work together.

Proportion
Emphasis draws attention
to a focal point. This is
done by contrasting shapes
or colours in the image to
feature one aspect. With
emphasis on a certain part,
you are able to highlight
what is most important in a
photograph.

If everything is emphasized
then nothing will stand out!

Emphasis
Contrast is a distinct
difference between
elements of a form or
composition; either
visually or in subject
matter.
Visual contrast can be
achieved through the use
of intense complementary
colors.
Images such as night and
day create contrast in
subject matter.
When both types of
contrast are used in the
same composition they
create the most contrast.

Contrast
Movement in visual images
comes from the kinds of
shapes, forms, lines, and
curves that are used.
Diagonal lines tend to
create the illusion of
movement or motion.
Changes in direction,
darkness or lightness, or
connecting or overlapping
shapes can imply
movement or restlessness.
A series of images shown
as individual frames (like a
comic strip) can provide a
sense of movement through
time.

Movement
Rhythm is created when
an element is repeated
over and over again like
many lines, or shapes or
colours. It could also be
specific content like many
shoes, or faces, or cars. It
creates a feeling of
organized movement, and
is like music in that it has
a “beat”.

Rhythm
Unity is the relationship
among the elements of an
image that helps the
elements function together.
Unity helps to organize an
image and gives the image
a sense of oneness.
In other words, the words
and the images work
together to create meaning.
Unity can be achieved
through the use of similar
shapes and patterns, the
use of space, or a common
background.

Unity
This is another way to say
point of view. Depending
on the perspective, you
may have a new and
unique way of seeing a
particular sight. It’s very
interesting and refreshing
to see an image from a
perspective that we don’t
encounter ourselves. We
are so used to seeing
things from our own point
of view that it stimulates
our senses to see
something new.
Adapted from Paul Reimer, 2015

Perspective
• Slide 4-
https://mystudioart.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/elements-of-art.jpg
• Slide 14-
https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design
.pdf

• Slide 16-
https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/design-in-art-repetition-pattern-and-rhythm
• Slide 19- http://nwrain.net/~tersiisky/design/emphasis.html
• Slide 20- https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/design-in-art-balance-and-contrast
• Slide 21-
http://www.educ.kent.edu/community/VLO/Design/principles/movement/ind
ex.html

References

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