These are some examples of how the elements of visual composition can be used and what they are.

1. Visual Composition
Elements of Design

2. The following images demonstrate the principle of line. Line is one of the
basic elements of design and they can aid in organization, texture,
appearance, readability, and message of a design. Line is used to give
texture and make it seem as though the lines aren’t straight in the first
image. Line is used to guide your eye to the highest point of the building
from indoors and looking upward.
Line
- Searched optical illusion
http://www.wallpapersstudio.com/data/media/19/curves_optical_illusion.jpg
-Searched complex lines
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2113/5814688727_8197766573_z.jpg

3. The following images demonstrate the principle of shape (2 dimensional).
Shape is one of the basic elements of design and when alone or combined
with other shapes or lines they explain various meanings, guide the eye,
or organize information. There are three types; geometric, natural, and
abstract shapes. Shape is used to guide your eye to the center of these
various geometric shapes. Shape is used to guide your eye to the
significant natural shape of a leaf.
Shape (2D)
- Searched for geometry
http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/images/picture%209.gif
- Searched for leaves
http://muchmoreofhim.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-parable-of-autumn-leaves.html

4. The following images demonstrate the principle of form (3 dimensional).
Form is the 3 dimensionality of an object while shape is only 2
dimensional. You can hold a form, walk around a form, and sometimes
walk inside a form. Form is used to show how you can walk inside a form
as shown in the hall way where you’re walking into a cube or cuboid.
Form is used to guide the eye to the statue of the two people kissing in
the second image.
Form (3D)
- Searched for hallway
http://bethesda-fellowship.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Hallway.jpg
- Searched for abstract statue
http://www.worldbazaarimports.com/images/wb1099foreverlove.jpg

5. The following images demonstrate the principle of color. Color has the
capacity to affect the human nervous system. Color includes hue;
referring to the primary colors, value; lightness and darkness, and
intensity; purity or saturation, and also included is monochromatic where
only the value of a color changes. Color is used to show the analogous
colors work together in the first image. Color is used to show the
complementary colors work together in the second image.
Color
- Searched for analogous colors
http://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/analagous.jpg
- Searched for complementary colors
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/contestsubmissions/63580d1275501306-colors-colors-jpg

6. The following images demonstrate the principle of texture. Texture is the
visual or tactile surface characteristics of a piece and is always part of our
designs, intentional or not. We can add textures through the arrangement
of lines and shapes or by the use of photographic images of specific
surfaces. Texture is created naturally in the first image, and is created
man-made in the second image.
Texture
- Searched for striations
http://0.tqn.com/d/denver/1/0/8/0/-/-/redrocks_striation.jpg
- Searched for sandpaper
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-KnA9P4FmY/T8YskSRp1eI/AAAAAAAACQg/woYVfeOztNQ/s1600/sandpaper.jpg

7. The following images demonstrate the principle of depth (perspective).
Depth is when we look around us, some things seem closer, some further
away. The illusion of depth can be shown through overlapping, size and
vertical location, detail (aerial/atmospheric perspective), or linear
perspective. Size and vertical location is used in the first image.
Atmospheric perspective is used in the second image.
Depth (Perspective)
- Searched for cartoon penguins
http://kootation.com/cartoon-characters-wallpapers-penguin-pictures.html
- Searched for atmospheric perspective
http://adamforfang.blogspot.ca/2011/11/atmospheric-perspective.html

8. The following images demonstrate the principle of light. Light an dark
areas provide an image with contrast which can suggest volume. The
factors that affect our feelings toward an image include the direction of
the light source; from above or below, and the gentleness or abruptness
of the half tones. Light can also form silhouettes. The first image is an
example of how shadows can be casted from the light source at the
bottom-right. The second image is an example of a silhouette when the
light is behind the object.
Light
- Searched for shadows
http://iliketowastemytime.com/2012/10/17/shadow-art-created-using-garbage-8-pics
- Searched for sunlight
http://www.davidicke.com/images/stories/January20124/sunlight-vitamin-d.jpg

9. The following images demonstrate the principle of direction (motion).
Direction doesn’t show motion in an image, tricks are used to perceive
motion. They’re called anticipated movement, fuzzy outlines, multiple
images, optical movement, optical illusions, and rhythm and movement.
The first image uses an optical illusion where there’s repetition and
geometric forms. The second image uses fuzzy outlines where the figure’s
moving past at a high speed.
Direction (Motion)
- Searched for moving illusions
http://www.doodlechallenge.com/movingillusions/020MovingIllusion.jpg
- Searched for racing car
http://www.spare-wheel.com/files/images/Porsche-911-GT3-Cup-Race-Car-01.jpg

10. The following images demonstrate the principle of mass (visual weight).
Mass is equal to size and each piece you create has physical mass. The
physical mass or size is the actual dimensions of the piece; in height,
width, thickness, weight, and depth. In the first image, weight and depth
are perceived and the Earth is impossible to hold in your own hands. In
the second image, weight is also perceived and you can tell feathers are
light to the touch.
Mass (Visual Weight)
- Searched for earth
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pKFEEX6T1AU/S8S9RqSzYcI/AAAAAAAAACE/__q43tvl6nU/s1600/earth.gif
- Searched for feathers
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y4359E/y4359e0x.jpg

11. The following images demonstrate the principle of tone (black and
white). Tone is related to value except that color or hue is unimportant.
Tone is found as the juxtaposition of light and dark in its simplest form.
Tone is more often defined as the intensity of lightness or darkness. Some
terms tone uses are shade, tint, tone, and value. In the first image, tint
and value are used. In the second image, shade, tone, and value are used.
Tone (Black and White)
- Searched for halftone
http://depositphotos.com/7057094/stock-illustration-Random-halftone-colorful-background.html
- Searched for tint
http://windowtintking.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Portland-Window-tint-.jpg

12. The following images demonstrate the principle of value. Value is the
relative lightness or darkness of an area and can be used for emphasis.
Variations of value are used to create a focal point; light figure on a dark
background or vice versa. Gradations of value are used to create the
illusion of depth. The surrounding darkness focuses your eyes toward the
center in the first image. The corner light drags your eyes across to the
brightness in the second image.
Value
- Searched for darkness
http://stuffpoint.com/ddarkness/image/178081/city-in-darkness-picture/
- Searched for lightness
http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/nov4_majaya_ttl.jpg

13. The following images demonstrate the principle of space (positive and
negative). Space is the area provided for particular purposes , it may have
either two or three dimensions, and consists of positivity or negativity.
Space includes the background, foreground, and middle ground. It also
refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of
an image. Positive and negative space is perceived in both the first and
second image.
Space (Positive and Negative)
- Searched for negative space
http://earthula.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/sky_and_water.jpg
- Searched for positive space
http://thebasicsbypaulbyrondowns.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/vellum1.jpg

14. The following images demonstrate the principle of balance. There are
three types of balance. Symmetrical balance is in perfectly centered
compositions or as a mirror image. Asymmetrical balance is off center or
created with an odd or mismatched number of different elements. Radial
balance is the element radiating from or swirling around in a circular or
spiral path. The first image is an example of radial balance. The second
image is an example between symmetrical and asymmetrical balance.
Balance
- Searched for radial balance
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3012/2861940371_8c02a0fa6e.jpg
- Searched for asymmetrical
http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/119/4b285f9f0cda451e0b35ac14f04bfc28/l.jpg

15. The following images demonstrate the principle of emphasis. Emphasis
provides the focal point for an image. It makes the element that’s most
important stand out and is sometimes called dominance. Emphasis can be
done by changing font or image sizes, placing objects in the front, or
using contrasting colors. The blue raspberry is highlighted and focuses the
eye amongst the red ones in the first image. The green colored eye is
highlighted amongst the grey toned background in the second image.
Emphasis
- Searched for dominance
http://empa97.blogspot.ca/2012/10/unity-repetition-balance-rhythm.html
- Searched for emphasis
http://2spring2011.blogspot.ca/2011/02/color-emphasis_16.html

16. The following images demonstrate the principle of proportion (scale).
Proportion is the relative size and scale of various elements and issues the
relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. Architectural spaces
intended to impress are scaled to a size that dwarfs the viewer and is
used in public places; churches or centers of government. It’s also applied
to corporate spaces through which the enterprise wishes to impress
people with its power and invincibility. The first and second image make
everything further is small and in front is massive.
Proportion (Scale)
- Searched for hallway
http://wallpaperswide.com/hallway_bw-wallpapers.html
- Searched for proportion
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/socaldevgal/archive/2007/06/24/accurate-proportion.aspx

17. The following images demonstrate the principle of repetition (rhythm).
Repetition contains visual elements such as columns of text, headlines,
photos, illustrations, pull-quotes, and much more. In repetition, people
often expect to find sidebars, informational text, and other often
repeated elements in the same place from page-to-page. The first image
of the tapes are an example of repetition where each second column is
the same. The second image of the newsletter is an example of repetition
where the column width is the same size.
Repetition (Rhythm)
- Searched for pattern
http://littletreeblog.blogspot.ca/2011/07/tigerprint-male-pattern-competition.html
- Searched for newspaper
http://theherofeed.com/1118/so-thats-what-the-guitar-hero-ii-newspaper-says/newspaper/

18. The following images demonstrate the principle of unity. Unity is a way to
make objects in a piece seem as if they’re related to each other and can
be shown in many ways. Proximity is where the objects are grouped close
together allowing pattern. Repetition is where color, shape, texture, or
object can be used to tie an image together. Continuation is where the
line, edge, or direction continues from one area to another. The first
image is an example of continuation and proximity. The second image is
an example of proximity and repetition.
Unity
- Searched for continuation
http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/bnaya/archive/2011/12/28/tpl-continuation.aspx
- Searched for proximity
http://www.timeoutofmind.com/images/bryce/bryce_large/close_proximity.jpg

19. The following images demonstrate the principle of contrast. Contrast
occurs when two objects are different and the methods in creating it are
by using the differences in size, value, color, and type. Contrast adds
interest and provides emphasis to what’s important or to direct the eye. It
aids in readability by making headlines and subheadings stand out, and by
making small or lighter elements recede for more emphasis. Contrast is
used in the first image to concentrate the eye on the girl. Contrast is used
in the second image to focus on the silhouette.
Contrast
- Searched for emphasis
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3627/35166699.jpg
- Searched for contrast
http://rebeccanorlingdigi2012s2.blogspot.ca/2012/07/contrast-research.html

20. The following images demonstrate the principle of harmony. Harmony is
the visually satisfying effect of combining similar, related elements, such
as adjacent colors and similar shapes. Harmony is used to help create a
pleasing image in the principle of design by combining similar art
elements. The first image uses harmony by using related type colors and
grouping them together. The second image uses harmony by using similar
light and dark colors to bring the piece together.
Harmony
- Searched for adjacent colors
http://mosaicdesignservices.com/webgraphics/presentations/2007-02/adjacent.htm
- Searched for harmony
http://www.haleysonson.com/Harmony%20-%20WEB.JPG

21. The following images demonstrate the principle of proximity. Proximity
creates visual structure and gives an image an organized feel by giving
space to items according to their relation to another. Proximity means
that related items should appear closer together than items that aren’t
related. Spacing itself serves as a visual clue to what’s related and what’s
not and as to where a piece of information stops and starts. The first and
second image use proximity to group similar images together.
Proximity
- Searched for relation
http://cdn4.techmaish.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/build-relationship-with-bloggers.jpg
- Searched for proximity
http://viosben.blogspot.ca/2010/09/heliconia-fake-bird-of-paradise.html

22. The following images demonstrate the principle of variety. Variety means
to change the character of an element and to make it different. Variety is
complement to unity and without it an image is dull and uninteresting.
Ways to vary elements is to include line, shape, color, value, and texture.
The first image uses variety by focusing on the frog compared to its
background; there’s shades of green followed by yellows and oranges.
The second image shows variety with the different ethnicities of faces.
Variety
- Searched for variation
http://www.educationquizzes.com/ks3/science/variation-and-classification-01/
- Searched for unity
http://www.thetippingpointsblog.com/2010/02/when-i-say-unity/