Chapter 3 Definitions Flashcards
Similarity, oneness, togetherness, cohesion; cornerstone of composition
Unity
Difference; cornerstone of composition
Variety
The combination of multiple parts into a unified whole
Uses line, shape, texture, value, and color in a team (elements)
Composition
an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts; describes six unifying strategies: grouping, containment, repetition, proximity, continuity, and closure
Gestalt
Creating order and connections
Grouping
Use of the same visual element or effect over and over
Repetition
A unifying force created by the outer edge of a composition or by a boundary within a composition; encourages to seek connections along visual units and adds definition to negative space
Containment
Occurs when shapes or volumes are placed so close together that they share common edges
Fusion
A fluid connection along compositional parts
Continuity
Creates deliberate visual pathways and helps direct the viewers’s attention to areas or particular interest
Movement
Primary point of interest; compositional device used to create emphasis
Focal point
The mind’s inclination to connect fragmentary information to produce a completed form
Closure
Created when any visual element is systematically repeated over an extended area
Pattern
Created through a series of intersecting lines
Grid
Distribution of weight or force within a composition
Balance
- The inclination of shapes to float or sink
- The relative importance of a visual element within a design
Visual weight
Created when similar imagery appears on either side of a central axis
Approximate symmetry
Lines and shapes are mirrored both vertically and horizontally with the center of the composition acting as a focal point
Radial symmetry
Created equilibrium among visual events to that do NOT mirror each other on either side of an axis
Asymmetrical balance
The relative size of visual elements within an image
Proportion
The size of a form when compared with our own human size
Scale
Sense of movement that is created by repetition of multiple units in a deliberate pattern
Rhythm
Gives prominence to part of a design
Emphasis
Break from the norm
Anomaly
Compressive compositional force
Centricity
Expansive compositional force
Eccentricity
Created when two or more forces operate in opposition
Contrast
