| DESIGN ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES DESIGN ELEMENTS: point line shape form tone texture colour letterform FOR TEACHERS DESIGN PRINCIPLES: figure-ground balance contrast cropping hierarchy scale proportion pattern |
 |
| INDEX Members only |
| DESIGN PRINCIPLE CONTRAST CONTRAST is an immensely powerful concept, probably the most powerful among the design tools more ..... CONTRAST - the use of light and dark, large and small, or differently textured materials on a page - can be used to draw attention to important elements on a page. A balance should be found when using contrast because elements that draw too much attention may detract the viewer from other material on the page. On the other hand, using too little contrast makes the content receed into a jumble of elements that the viewer must work hard to analyze. When two items on a page are not meant to be the same, make them obviously different. Viewers glance at the page and see everything as a component of everything else: the page itself...the logos, the type, the images, the empty spaces...their interrelationships...as well as the pages that went before and the pages that are to follow. They have to sort through a mess of stuff – fast. Therefore, you want to make the important elements stand out, while putting the less important, supporting material in the background. You need to use CONTRAST. more ..... More on CONTRAST www.xaraxone.com/guest/guest06/html/1.htm www.metatoggle.com/design_crs/contrast.html Tools for Building Contrast As soon as you place a line or a square on a page, you are setting up some form of contrast. Learn to control it: it's the most effective way to get noticed and set different elements apart. Common types of contrast include: dark/light, warm/cool, large/small, rough/smooth. Contrast can also occur in colour through hue, value, and intensity. More on TYPES OF CONTRAST ..... 4 Color Contrast The human eye requires contrasts for visibility and legibility. Contrast creates visual interest and helps deliver accurate information. Colors that are close in value tend to blur together, and their borders "melt." For example, black text on a dark blue background is hard to read. When the color value is too close between text and background colors, it can create legibility problems. When you are putting together different elements, you want to be sure they have a contrasting color value unless you want the elements to just blur together. This is especially important when you want readable text on a colored background. Colors of contrasting values stand out from each other. On a blue background yellow jumps out at the reader. When the color value has enough contrast compared to the background it is easy to read—but too much contrast or the use of complementary colors is taking the idea of contrast too far. Colors will appear to "vibrate" and will create legibility problems and give your poor reader a headache. Remember the simultaneous contrast effect! When colors are applied against each other, their appearance can change. Don't just pick a text color without looking at it against the planned background color. And expect to do some visual experimenting before you find the right combination of colors. Squint at the chart below. Notice the letters that are clearly readable against the background.The letters that disappear into the background have color values similar to the background. HOME |
 |
 |