Gestalt

For this activity we went over the principals for Gestalt. I chose to use "similarity" in my picture, which "group similar objects together in a meaningful way." In this picture all of the objects for one have to do with weather and the suns for the first and last row allow similarity to take form.

This picture was inspired in class by Dr. Estes and represents "closure" as one of Gestalt's principals. The arrows are formatted in a way that allows an X to take form in the open space between the four arrows. By looking at this you mind does fill in the empty space in the form of an X even though there is nothing there but arrows, which is a really cool illusion!

For the next three pictures the assignment was to create an icon from an image. This picture was my original image that I used. I choose the anchor because I feel as though it is a symbol for the sea. I got this image from Google.

To create this image, I first used the magnetic lasso to outline the anchor to separate it from the rest of the photo. After I moved the anchor to a new document and went to Fx at the bottom right of Photo Shop and changed the anchor to black along with the opacity. I also changed the texture and depth on the scale. the inner shadow, outer glow, bevel and emboss, satin and color overall in stock were all selected to give the anchor this current look. I choose to change so much of the anchor to make it stand out as much as possible by still making a statement at the same time. By doing all of these things the outcome of the final image I believe does show similar features to those in the book. I think black works the best with this image and the texture really makes it stand out.

This last image is something that I just fooled around with in PowerPoint. I wanted to do one more viewpoint on an anchor by just using the different arrow shapes in PowerPoint. I changed the gradient but that was about all I did besides rotating the two arrows to make the similar to the anchor. Just a another way to view something as iconic in a different outlook.

CAP

1. Connection
The elements that are thematically connected throughout my portfolio are placed in association with each other visually. The first visuals that I used in my blogs were the horizon variations. Although I used separate blogs when explaining each, both of the visuals were placed one right after the other. For edited photos, I used a before picture in each to show what the image looked like before and after for each assignment. For the Golden Section I made to sure upload a picture off of Google to represent the spiral that is used for spacing and good composition and create a further explanation to accompany the ruler that I made. For the assignment for grouping and theme I made sure that all of the elements that were used, which were the shapes were all the same throughout each of my photos. Although each photo represented different themes, my shapes remained the same as I wanted to portray a common theme as a viewer scanned my images. For the last assignment, color and emphasis, theme was one of the most important parts. There were two final products that I created which was a row of sunflowers, and a black and white image with pink umbrellas. This was by far my best work yet and I made sure that all of the elements were visually connected and the viewer could perceive the same if they were to view my work.
Overall, I feel that I have made as many adjustments as I can make to create more relevant connections between each of the elements and assignments that we have had so far. Most of my pieces are very well organized and have a meaning behind each. The only assignment that was in a sense “scattered” was the grouping and theme assignment. Creating so many different images for words didn’t come as easy as I thought and some of my images with the shapes are not in an exact format. The representation that I tried to show with each word through shapes might come off as a bit “scattered”. There could perhaps be changes made to some of the images to make the groups of shapes more relatable. I did the images based on what I related to, not other viewers. This assignment in my portfolio would be the most difficult for viewers to grasp the concept of because it was based off the designer’s (my) personal thoughts of what the word meant to me and how I wanted to represent that word through the shapes I had.
I do believe that there should be a cut off in certain images to create a visual break or an interruption of flow to a viewer. Color and emphasis is the perfect example of when this would be appropriate. As stated in my blog as Krause explains “color is an extremely effective tool when it comes to making one element stand out above others. But, just as with other forms of emphasis, its effect depends on how it is used in relation to its surroundings.”(P 74) Just like the sunflowers that I used in my portfolio, the third flower is different from the other three which makes it stand out and catch the eye of the viewer. This works great in advertising to accomplish the same thing, to catch the attention and allow the information to be absorbed by others.
Referring back to the grouping and theme assignment, which is not so much a multi-page but multi-image design, there are strong visuals and an obvious theme connection between each. Like I stated before, all of the shapes remained the same throughout all of the photos in this assignment which made the overall theme very easy to recognize. The visuals that are presented in this assignment, along with the explanation beside each made the visuals and theme have a stronger connection and make it easy for the viewer to understand the overall concept of the assignment. The same applies to the horizon variations and color and emphasis assignments as well. The picture before and after for each also make the edited visuals have a stronger representation and allow the viewer to not only see the finished product but have an explanation and original picture to helps viewers understand the information easier.
Structural conventions in my portfolio I believe have consistently been applied. I have done my best to make each image and assignment as neat, clean and easy on the eyes as possible. For each assignment I have tried to give a detailed description of my photos and show before images of each. By doing this, the viewer doesn’t have to image and wonder what the image looked like before by looking at my edited and finished product. Instead, by providing the original image the viewer can see both and the changes can be captured and perhaps applied to another photo by the viewer.

2. Alignment
For the alignment assignment I made sure to go into as much detail as I could to explain the steps that I had taken to make both of my images. I feel as though not a lot of questioning would be asked if a viewer were to look at my explanations and apply it to my photos and the components that were used to complete each. I have in fact re-checked each of the pictures that I created to make sure that the alignment of each was correct. The pictures were both a little different from each other; the first photo has a picture on top and the wording on the bottom which I decided wasn’t the best format. I changed it to the opposite and made the words on top and the picture on bottom which I felt made it more pleasing to the eye and allowed others to capture the image better.
Both of the conventions that I used are centered. I took this approach because I wanted to keep the “ad” simple and to the point. Flush-left of right I feel would take away from the overall purpose and be a distraction for viewers. There are always exceptions that could allow a more enforced message. One example that Krause shows in his book shows a picture of a chair off to the left side of the page. “Creating solidarity. Even a sideways logo and tipping chair feel securely anchored in this layout because of strong and clear horizontal and vertical alignments between elements.”(P 81) Taking this approach can most defiantly enforce a message more but I believe it depends on the message that is trying to be told viewed. For my picture and wording, centering I believe was the best option. However, the tipping of a chair and having it not centered could strengthen the viewers overall opinion of a message. I don’t believe my photos in the alignment assignment have areas of trapped space. I tried to create space between the wording and the picture to make the flow simple and pleasing to view. I do feel as though my picture and wording would be trapped if I hadn’t used the spacing that I had and just had all of the information at the top or bottom of the page.

3. Priority
I think most of the pieces that I have edited and created would actually look very plain and simple. The images that I feel would stand out across a room would be the most recent photos that I edited under color and emphasis. The row of sunflowers that I created and the black and white photo with the pink umbrellas I believe are very eye catching. “Elements can dominate through relative size, comparisons of color or an intriguing presentation. As a designer it’s up to you to act as referee between competing elements and decide which ones will dominate and how.” (P 64) This statement from Krause really reflects what I tried to encompass in the most recent assignment. Through color I was able to make an eye catching picture by emphasizing the element by changing the actual color of the photos I selected. Both images that I have mentioned are clear and appropriate.
In this case I think the size of each element used is appropriate but I do think that I could have changed the size of the sunflower that was different in the line to make it stand out even more. The balance between of color and value in the sunflower image and umbrella image bring positive attention to the area of design. The changes to each image are not extreme but make the picture stand out way more than it would have previously without the changes made. The flow of the sunflowers is very pleasing to the eye and is captured by the sunflower that is “color burned”. The image of the umbrella I believe is very pleasing to the eye and really makes the viewer take a second look and capture the image more. Like I stated in my explanation, the pink of the umbrellas really reminds me of a breast cancer awareness add or something that would be associated with fighting cancer because of the pink color.
Krause mentions how important flow is. One page that I find extremely useful in explaining how easy it is to interrupt flow are the examples on page 109 with the pitcher and water. “Those of us who have been exposed to “western” languages all of our lives have learned to read from left to right. Perhaps it’s for this reason that we are strongly influenced to perceive visual direction from left to right.” (P 108) I found this so true when look at the examples in the book. When the flow of an image or wording is off, the whole advertisement or view is off as well. Like Krause said we are conditioned to view things from left to right, when something is set up opposite, like some of the examples of the pitcher and glass, it is very unpleasing to view. I tried to do the opposite of that and make sure my images had a visual flow, which wasn’t hard to do with just changing the colors and placing them in a row.

Color and Emphasis

This is my original image that I took from Stockvault.net. I used the magnetic lasso and clicked select inverse to make the background of everything else that was not selected, which was the flower disappear.

For this image I opened a new file and dragged the original image to a new document. I went to the bottom of PhotoShop on the right hand side and clicked Fx and selected pattern overlay and then changed the blend mode to color burn. This gave it this appearance.

For this image I duplicated the original image three times and pasted it into PowerPoint and aligned them. I then inserted the second image that I changed and place it in the third spot making it stand out. "Color is an extremely effective tool when it comes to making one element stand out above others. But, just as with other forms of emphasis its effect depends on how it is used in relation to its surroundings."(P 74) Like the example of paper clips in the book that are in a straight line, so are the flowers. I feel that this makes the image flow and the flower that I used the blend mode and color burn is what really stands out right when you look at this image.

For this image the assignment was to take a photo, make it black and white and make something in the photo stand out. This image that I selected is the original version and was already black and white. I didn't have to change anything in that aspect.

I chose to make the umbrellas stand out in this photo. I used the magnetic lasso and clicked select inverse twice so everything in the image was selected besides the umbrellas. I then used the paint bucket and clicked on the umbrellas that were selected. To make the umbrellas see through, I changed the opacity. This was the final product that I decided to go with. I feel like it is very simple but still stands out and makes a statement at the same time. I think it could be used as a breast cancer ad or something of empowerment for women.

Alignment

The purpose of this activity in class was to see the different perspectives of the alignment principles. For this first image I used the picture at the top to grab the attention of the viewer. I tried first to portray an image on page 80 of the middle image of the bottom half of the page called Justified Alignment. "Through letter spacing adjustments, the width of the subhead has been made to match the width of the image above it. Here, a strict alignments technique is paired with a creative typographic solution."(P 80) I found that this wasn't exactly what I was looking for so I reconstructed the image.

For this next image I decided to use the example on page 81 called a subtle strength. The image of the dog at the bottom of the page instead of being placed at the top provides a better catch for the eye with the logo, or statement of what is being advertised. "conveying a sense of structure."(P 81) I feel like the image does just that, coveys a better sense of structure and looks more put together with the letting at the top and the picture placed at the bottom.

**Both of these images were done in PowerPoint. To make sure the I aligned each image and wording correctly I held the shift key for the text box and dragged it to both sides of the PowerPoint slide so there would be no mistakes and guessing on where the middle of the page was. The images were very simple and easy to change. I got the image of the dog off of stockvault.net and re-sized it to fit. There were not a lot of buttons that I needed to push. For the letters I used WordArt and changed the size of each of the times to maximize what the key point were. For the background I used gradient and used a light neutral tone that wouldn't take away from the main focus.

Grouping & Theme

I tried to keep all of my images simple so there would be as little distraction as possible. Here with unity, I basically moved all of the circles right on top of each other. When I think of unity I think of togetherness and closeness. I also made the circles a bit different in size to let that perhaps represent people and to show that not one person is the same. That is what I tried to convey here.

With the word "celebration" the first thought that came to mind was happiness. That is why I decided to take the circles as put them into the shape of a smiley face. Celebration is a time where something has been accomplished and I would say that often more times than not it is a happy moment in time.

"Isolation" was the easiest for me to do. Being left of out the crowd is something that almost everyone can relate to and I feel that if someone saw this image and were asked to think of one word, isolation would defiantly come to mind. Krause makes a great point, "Effective grouping streamlines the viewer's search for meaning and information. The designer helps the viewer by deciding which (and how) elements should visually relation to each other."(P43) I not only made the the united circles different in size, similar to "unity" but I also made the stray circle in the upper left at its original size to make it stand out even more from the united circles.

Escape was not difficult in coming up with ideas but rather ways to express them with 10 circles. I decided to do a pathway that I tried to make look endless and that it kept going. An escape for me would be walking away from somewhere and I tried to show that by having the path start and end at the corners so it looked endless. I feel as though this could potentially be somewhat difficult for a viewer to figure out, I think I could have done a better job and trying to relate to what the viewers would be seeing instead of my own personal thoughts.

For intimidation, this was the first theme that I somewhat struggled with how to group the circles. I looked up the word to find a better understanding of the different meanings. One line said strong arms, so I decided to try and represent that by placing the circles in the shape of someone who was flexing their biceps downwards like in body build competitions. The two bigger circles on either side represent the biceps with the other circles that curl towards each other represent the two arms.

Logic was the last grouping that I finished. My first thoughts were books and a brain. I wasn't sure how to represent that with just using circles so I looked up the word and one word that stuck out to me was "predictability". Having a straight line of any sort I feel is very predictable and one the safe side. The logic behind that is that where there is one circle, another one must follow right after that. That is why I decided to put them from corner to corner so it was never ending line of circles.

Anarchy was another tough theme that made me think. I looked up this word as well and found that "utopia" and peaceful living were described. I decided to try and represent this word by using a peace sign without the circle around it. I do feel that it could be seen as something else as well if viewed by others but thought I could group together and create a theme from that would make some sort of sense.