Lines help guide the eye to specific areas of an image. There are three basic types of 2D shapes: geometric, like circles and squares; natural shapes found in nature; and abstract shapes which are modified versions of natural shapes. Form refers to 3D shapes that have volume and can contain solids, liquids or gases. Color, texture, depth, light, direction, mass, tone, value, space, balance, emphasis, proportion, repetition, unity, contrast, harmony, proximity, and variety are all design elements that can be manipulated to achieve different artistic effects in an image.

1. Line
Lines help guide our
eyes to a specific spot
in a picture. It helps
guide our eyes
whether the line is
curved or solid or
dashes etc.

2. Shape (2D)
Three basic type of shapes
are natural, abstract, and
geometric.
Geometric: Basic shapes
like circles and squares etc.
Natural Shape: Natural
shapes are like shapes from
nature like leaves or water
shapes for example a wave
would be a natural shape.
Abstract Shape: Different
versions of natural shapes
like a handicapped signs

3. Form (3D)
Three-dimension
shape that has a form
and is capable of
holding some type of
solid, liquid, or gas.

4. Colour
Colour has a tremendous
effect on what the mood
and setting is taking
place in for example if
you have a colorful
scenery you can picture
it as happy, but if you
have the scenery in a
dark place you can tell
something is serious or a
disaster is about to
happen.

5. Texture
Texture is design to
characterize a photo to
tell us what it looks like
or what it could feel
like from one point of
view.

6. Depth (Perspective)
Depth is the perspective of what we think we see
from a picture.
Size and vertical location: we see small in a photo
is that the item is far away but when we see
something close up we percept it as closer.
Over Lapping: When we see something covered by
something else, we see it as being further back
because we cannot see the full object.
Detail: This is to show us what we see from a
distance and what the artist wants us to focus on
with the addition of having a background
Linear Perspective: Linear perspective having a
certain pattern leading to a certain object that the
artist wants us to focus on

7. Light
Light is used to help us
gain perception of the
object from light to see
how its shaped or to
see the landscape and
capture a certain area
in a portrait

8. Direction (Motion)
Anticipated Movement: Our eyes tell us what we
think is going to happen and what we think is
going to happen
Fuzzy Outlines: Usually tells us something is going
really fast
Multiple Images: Shows us the same person but
has multiple pictures to show motion
Optical Movement: Forcing the eyes to move with
the portrait
Optical Illusions: Puts a lot of shapes together to
make it look like its moving but really isn’t
Rhythm and Movement: Rhythm and Movement
shows the observant that if it is moving in a slow
or dynamic way

9. Mass ( Visual Weight)
Mass shows how we
percept the weight of
an object for example a
feather is light because
it dances in the wind or
if it takes 20 people to
lift up a car shows the
car as very heavy

10. Tone (Black and White)
Tone is used with light
and dark to make
something look
exceptionally visual
from having totally
opposite components
of the elements
together.

11. Value (Colour)
Value is given to see
what is the centre of
attention with one
value of colour greater
than the other like
darkness and light too
see what is
emphasized.

12. Space (Positive and Negative)
The space is represented
by the object of a
background, meaning
that the area
surrounding an object is
not what we focus on but
is the object that is
covering the empty
space also being called
positive space for the
object and negative
space as the empty
space.

13. Balance
Using
symmetrical, asymmet
rical and radial designs
to make a portrait or
image to look neat and
organized and spaced
evenly to see how
interesting it is

14. Emphasis
Emphasis is designing
a portrait or photo to
show what the artists
wants you to see most
importantly

15. Proportion (Scale)
Proportion is the relative
size and scale of a design
to show how big an
image is or how small an
image is like a sofa in a
room with the size
proportioned to your
hand. The couch would
have the centre of
attention compared to
the hand.

16. Repetition (Rhythm/Pattern)
Repetition enhances
readability, for
example like page
numbers at the end of
the page or column
widths so the article or
paper is easier to read

17. Unity
Proximity: Easiest way to
see a group being together
is to put them together like
a family portrait
Repetition: Using the same
color and shape to see how
they work together
Continuation: Another
method of repetition to
make them look like they
tie together

18. Contrast
Contrast occurs when
there are two elements
of photos that are
different and are used
but in different shapes
and sizes

19. Harmony
Harmony is a visually
satisfying effect of
combining colours and
shapes to entertain the
eyes of the reader

20. Proximity
This just shows that
items that do not
belong in a image are
spaced apart and it
shows the reader
what’s really
emphasized

21. Variety
Variety means to
change the character
of an element to make
it different because if
does not have unity it is
unreadable and if
doesn’t have variety, it
will be dull and boring