Motion/Movement

http://backspace.com/notes/2003/04/design-against-the-war.php

This image is a poster for an organization for families who are opposed to the war and have relatives in the war. Implied motion in this image comes primarily from line style. Lines contribute to movement in 2D artwork. Artists add lines around things if they are supposed to look like they are in motion. In this image, for example, lines are shaky, giving the figures in the image a living quality. Diagonals, such as the woman's arm and the slight diagonal of the crutch in the man's hand also indicate motion. Even if the figures in the image are not meant to look like they are moving, the lines and direction in the image still give a sense of movement.

http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-23966/300.html

This image is a promotional poster for the film "300." The film was revolutionary in its use of digital movement, and this comes across in the poster. Although the background is a flat, monochromatic surface, the overall effect is still dynamic. The font used for the "300" in the image is splattered at a slight diagonal across the image. The person in the image was probably moving while the picture was taken, but even just the expression on his face and the angle of his head and body indicate movement. The words "prepare for glory" are set at an angle and surrounded by more splatter. The apparent randomness of this splatter effect gives a sense of implied motion to the image. A viewer's knowledge of how splatter is created causes a feeling of speed and urgency to the poster.

Dimension/Depth/Space

http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Waltz_with_Bashir/waltz_with_bashir_movie_poster.jpg

This image is the poster for the animated film "Waltz with Bashir." It depicts space and scale using two-dimensional imagery with bold lines, and using only tone to show dimension of objects. Size perception is done largely using the combined familiar size of men and relative size to show distance and space. The buildings on the right side of the image use relative height gong towards a vanishing point. The central man in the image blocks the vanishing point of the buildings, using overlap to show that he is closer in perspective. Some shadow convergence is used with the man farthest to the right. His shadow is cast on the surface of the water, giving an impression of dimensionality. The texture gradient of ripples in the water show the water's expanse and movement.

Tone and Color

This poster for the film "Moulin Rouge" uses tone and color to make a viewer want to see the movie. Tone is used in this image to blur certain areas and to draw attention to others. Color in this image is minimal; the poster would have nearly the same effect if it was in black in white because of its intense tonal contrast. There is little tonal background detail behind the woman in the image, yet her body and face are distinct. Lightness and shadows are significant in this image. Dondis states that tone is another way of describing light. A bright light appears to be shining on the woman from one angle, while her other side is in shadow. Only half of her face can be seen clearly. Tone here interacts with the basic element of direction. Light and shadow created by tone heighten the canted orientation of the image. The woman is at a slight diagonal, making the image at once unstable and provocative. The shadowy tone adds to this sensation.

Color in the poster is subtle and muted. The woman's face is most saturated area in the image. it presents some color, while the rest of the image has a blue undertone, making it seem neutral, passive, blurred. The dark red of her lips and the light orange of her hair stand out against her shocking white skin and the dark background. The hues of red in this image evoke emotion and interest, and are as provocative as the tonal contrasts. Color in the poster interacts with the basic element of the dot. The image is blurred so much so that dots are visible in areas where color fades to white, such as around the woman's eyes and in the background where blue changes to black. This style is reminiscent of the Pointilist artistic style mentioned by Dondis, in which dots are placed close together to create images, tone, and color.

Dondis Basic Elements- Web Design

http://www.originalplumbing.co m/

This example is using texture to create a visually stimulating web page title design. The "OP" title in the upper left corner uses the natural concrete texture from the image. The letters appear cut out from the image, also using the element of tone to create a perception of slight depth. Texture is interesting to the eye because it is tactile, the body responds to it. This site wants to engage the viewer in a tactile way. It is not trying to tiptoe around subjects, it want to be in your face. Though the colors are muted so as not to be obnoxious or flamboyant, the texture is stimulating.

http://www.indierockcafe.com/

This image uses color to create contrast. This website uses a simple background of black to make the content of the page appear bold. Color is also used in the site's title: indie rock cafe. The letters are alternated orange and black, colors that almost directly contrast according to established color models. This slight distortion and contrast makes the title strange to look at, even if the viewer is unsure why. Even though the font is ordinary and relatively small (especially compared to the logo in the site in my texture example), the color contrast makes it stand out.

http://themostcake.co.uk/

This image uses movement to engage a user. The page uses a monochromatic color scheme and little variation in front shape and size, but uses interactive motion to stimulate and and involve. When a user puts their cursor over one of the main images below the title, a description rolls upwards over the image, translucent so that the image can still partially be seen through it. Though movement is usually implied as a visual element, it is also useful as an interactive design technique. According to Dondis, it is a dominant visual force in the human experience. It can easily compensate for the other, more muted qualities of the website.