Elements & Principles 

A line can be vertical, diagonal, horizontal, and even curved. It can be any width, size, shape, position, direction, interval, or density. Often the starting point for all artistic expression, the line is one of the most essential elements of design. It always has more length than thickness, and can be unbroken, broken, or implied.

Points create lines and lines create shapes. A line can have other elements like color, texture, and movement applied to it. Though basic in appearance, lines can control the viewer’s thoughts and emotions, and lead a viewer’s eye through space

All objects are composed of shapes, and all elements of design are shapes in some way. Shapes can live in a form. An example would be a button on a website: It’s a shape that’s living inside the computer (which is the form).

A shape is a 2- or 3-dimensional object that stands out from the space next to it because of a defined or implied boundary. A shape can live in different areas in space, and have other elements like line, color, texture, or movement. Like forms, shapes come in two different types: geometric and organic.

Geometric shapes can be drawn using a ruler, compass, or digital instrument. They feel very precise, like an architecture rendering. Organic shapes are found in nature or drawn by hand. They’re the opposite of geometric, and often feel natural or smooth. 

Color is one of the hardest elements to harness, and probably one of the most challenging to understand. The basics, however, are relatively easy.

Color can help the organization of a design, and give emphasis to specific areas or actions. Like other elements, it has a few different properties: hue, saturation, and lightness. Unlike other elements, it does not always have to be used. A design can have the absence of color (yes, black and white are still colors, but you get the point). Color can be used sparingly or in a rainbow of hues, but tends to work best when there’s both a dominant color and a supporting color.

Hue typically references a wavelength of light in the color spectrum, which is blended from the primary colors of red, green, and blue (commonly referred to as RGB). A specific hue can have a vibrant or dull saturation. 

Value refers to the degree of lightness and darkness of a specific hue. Yellow has a higher value than purple because it is closer to white. Value changes create contrast on a page. Example; The reason you can read this text is that the black content contrasts with the white background. Value is also important in photography. You’ll notice that high-value images have a light and airy feel to them, while dark value images feel heavy and dramatic.

Texture is the way a surface feels, or the way it’s perceived to feel. It has the power to attract or detract a viewer’s eyes, and can be applied to lines, shapes, and forms.

There are two types of texture: tactile and visual. Tactile textures are three-dimensional and can be touched. An example is the tread on the bottom of your shoe. When you touch the bottom of your shoe, you can feel all the ridges, the roughness and smoothness. A photo of the same tread would be a visual texture. You can see it, not feel it.

Every shape or form has a place in space. As an element of design, space refers to the area around, above, below, or behind an object.

Objects in space can occur in both two and three dimensions. In a two-dimensional setting, space is about creating the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface. Shadows, shading, overlap, and sizing can help define an object’s place in space. For example, a button could have a shadow that makes it feel like it’s closer to the user. Space, like color, is an element that does not have to be used. But when it is, it’s a powerful way to add emphasis. 

Everything posses a form in one way or another. When we talk about form, we’re not talking about the content of the form, but the form itself.

Forms are three dimensional, and there are two types: geometric (man-made) and natural (organic). A digital or physical form can be measured by height, width, and depth. A form can be created by combining shapes, and it can be enhanced by color or texture. Depending on their usage, they can also be ornate or utilitarian. 

Principles of Design is how the Elements of Design are put together! 

Balance is the visual distribution of weight in an artwork using color, texture and space to achieve a visual stability or balance in a composition.

Balance describes the way subject matter is placed in a photograph.  Balance can be symmetrical (elements are the same on both sides) or asymmetrical (where elements are placed unevenly, but still work together to produce harmony overall).

This "harmony" is achieved by balancing the VISUAL WEIGHT.  Visual weight describes how much something in an image "pulls" your eye to look at it.  Imagine that you have an almost entirely white image with a small black dot in it.  That black dot will pull your eye immediately- it carries a lot of VISUAL WEIGHT.

SYMMETRICAL BALANCE: 

If you were to fold your photo in half, both sides would be about the same. 

ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE:

If you were to fold your photo in half, both sides would be different. 

Contrast is showing large differences between objects or elements in an artwork and it can be created using size, value, texture, color and more. Example: Big vs Small or Light vs Dark.

Emphasis is the part of the design that stands out and is the focal point of an artwork. Emphasis is created with contrast to help a focal point or subject noticeable in an artwork. Emphasis can be created by size, weight, position, color, shape, and style. Sometimes referred to as dominance, emphasis might seem similar to contrast, but it’s not quite the same. 

Movement is the Principle of Design in which the illusion of movement is created in an artwork. Elements such as line, shape, and color, direct the viewer’s eye around a composition.

Unity occurs when all of the elements combine to make a balanced, harmonious, complete WHOLE.  Or to put it simply, when the elements "go together."

Unity can be created by:

• Simplicity (only having a limited type of lines, shapes, colors, etc. instead of lots of variety)

• Repetition (repeating similar elements)

• Proximity (placing similar elements together)

Regular Flowing or Progressive Rhythm? 

Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals between them.  

Rhythm can create a sense of MOVEMENT in your photograph, as your eye will tend to follow the repeated elements throughout your composition. 

Pattern and repetition refers to repeating visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture or value in an image.  This tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create RHYTHM.  

Repetition can take the form of an exact duplication (pattern), a near duplication or duplication with variety.

Repetition is the Principle of Design where you repeat Elements of Art, such as Shape, Color, and Line, to create rhythm or pattern.

Proportion is the comparison and relationship of objects in an artwork or composition; how elements compare to each other.

Including variety in an artwork means you’re using a varying elements or different versions of elements in one composition or artwork