Proportion
BackgroundScale can help with contrast and communicate importance. The dimension of size influences perception; large elements are used to focus attention. Large size not only communicates an emphasis but is useful when size is the attribute to be communicated. For instance, if you are talking about something large then make the visual elements big.
Size can help the viewer focus on the subject even when the surroundings are much larger as illustrated in the Figure below: Filling the StageThere are multiple ways an element can fail but if there is too much negative space then it can diminish the impact and can make it hard to read. This is equally true for photos, video, and presentations.
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PurposeScale can draw attention and communicate hierarchy.
Size is an emphatic way of getting the viewer to think about the message. Dynamic SizeOn a more complex layout, don't make elements the same size, mix it up. Conformity of size suggests no sense of priority. Experiment try creating an element huge, let is spill off the page ...or so small you need glasses to see it; explore and try different variations - even a large item next to a very small item adds interest.
Technique:
Start with a perfect square grid. Then take one cell and increase it 50%, then take the other cell and reduce it by 50%. This starts to create a more dynamic form and can add a sense of hierarchy. Then move the blocks around - the end result can be more interesting while still being unified. SIZE AS EMPHASISProportion can be used to communicate dominance, see the following image. Notice the visual weight of the larger items draws your eye towards those.
TECHNIQUESupersize an element as the focal point.
For instance, take a relevant dingbat font element and enlarge it, add a line of text and it can become a simple but very powerful visual. |