Contrast

1
Chapter 3

• Contrast

2
Objectives

• Appreciate the importance of the principle of
  contrast.
• Understand the effect of contrast in a design.
• Learn key contrast techniques.

3
What is Contrast?

• Contrast occurs when two or more visual
  elements on a page look dramatically different
  from one another.

Why Use Contrast? (1 of 2)
The principle of contrast is an easy and
effective way to draw attention to a page.
Applying contrast techniques to a page visually
enhances it.
4
Why Use Contrast? (2 of 2)

• Contrast combined with emphasis and alignment
  organizes and cleans up a page.
• The page on the left lacks contrast.
• Contrast is added to the page on the right by
  changing some of the squares to circles.

5
Contrast Techniques (1 of 4)

• Some ways to achieve strong contrast include
  placing
• - Small elements with big elements
• - Warm colors with cool colors
• - Decorative type with sans serif type
• - Thin with thick elements
• - Solid areas with textured elements

6
Contrast Techniques (2 of 4) This contrast
example uses small type with a large initial
letter, warm vs. cool colors, and decorative type
with a sans serif type.
Contrast Techniques (3 of 4) Thin letterforms
contrast with thick letterforms.
Contrast Techniques (4 of 4) Texture placed
next to solid letterforms adds visual interest.
7
Contrast Example (1 of 3)

• The copy for this flyer design lacks both
  emphasis and contrast.

8
Contrast Example (2 of 3)

• Applying the principle of emphasis to the copy
  makes it much easier to pick out the important
  information, but the page still is boring.

9
Contrast Example (3 of 3)

• Pages often benefit from strong contrast.
• - This page contrasts big type with small type,
  big image with small image, playful typeface
  with a sans serif typeface
• - Use of emphasis and contrast organizes the
  page.

10
Chapter Summary

• Dont be afraid of contrast
• Using strong contrast draws attention to a page
  and organizes it.
• Designs with little contrast lack variety and
  are often visually boring.