Principle of Design – Contrast
Contrast is used to attract your attention or create a mood or effect in an image.
Contrast can be created by varying the size of items
Contrast can be created by changes in value or the amount of light
Contrast can be created by placing a mixture of textures together, colour tends to enhance this effect.
Contrast can be created by distinctions in shape
Contrast can be created by a difference in alignment of design elements or text.
Contrast can be created by a change of direction.
[Guided search]
There are multiple websites with detailed descriptions on using contrast as a design principle. You can also find excellent examples. Using your internet search engine, enter “design principles contrast” as a search term. Look at several different websites and examine the example images that illustrate contrasts.
When you are done, ask yourself if you feel confident that you can identify the use of repetition in an image and how that repetition creates a certain feel or mood in a visual message.
In the example below, note how the dark areas seem to go black where as the lighter areas are seemingly overexposed and almost appear white.
Can you see the contrast in this example?
