Variety and Contrast |
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| Organic unity, although
essential, is not enough to create a good composition. Vatiety and contrast
is also needed. Without variety and contrast, the image would seem boring.
For example, a checkerboard has organic unity but is uninteresting because
it lacks variety. The following design principles are used to give complexity,
subtlety, excitement and richness to compositions. I. Variety and contrast - Variety refers to having a diversity of elements in a composition, while contrast refers to those abrupt changes when unlike elements are juxtaposed. Variety and contrast can be achieved through: |
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| Different Shapes or Volumes | Shapes vs. Volumes | Value or Color |
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| Size | Few vs. Many | Dense vs. Sparse |
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| Direction | Texture or Pattern | Intervals
Between Visual Elements |
Focal Point |
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| One element
may be contrasted to the point where it becomes the focal point, while other elements may be contrasted to become secondary or tertiary areas of emphasis. |
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