1 Introduction to Computer Graphics – CGS-1586C Spring Quarter 2011 Instructor: Amanda Dickinson Tues/Thurs from 6:00PM to 7:50 PM

2 Overview for Today  Magicians of the Eye  Gestalt – Power of Perception  Composition  Homework

3 Magicians of the Eye  Making pretty pictures not just an art, it’s a science. Understanding human psychology is the first step in meeting the expectations of your audience.

4 What do you see?

5 Gestalt – Power of Perception  The visual world is extremely complex and can be very confusing.  Our brains are developed to find the simplest solutions to problems.

6 Gestalt – Power of Perception  The Gestalt effect describes how our brain sees forms instead of a collection of simple lines and curves.  “The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.”

7 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Figure and Ground The eye can differentiate an object from it’s surrounding area based upon contrast. Dark and light, black and white. Balancing figure and ground can make the image more clear.

8 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Continuity The viewer’s eye will naturally follow a line or curve.

9 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Closure Even though an object is not completely closed, we can still see the shape by filling in the missing information.

10 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Proximity When different elements are placed close together, our eyes see them as a group.

11 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Similarity Many parts that look similar is perceived to belong to the same unit or whole.

12 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Symmetry The exact reflection of something when flipped across a line or plane.

13 Gestalt – Power of Perception  Then what is Asymmetry? It’s the opposite of symmetry. It’s not identical when flipped across a line of reflection.

14 Composition  Pictures have both positive and negative space. Positive is the shapes added to the composition. Usually active. Negative is the space around the shapes. Usually passive.

15 Composition

16 Composition Positive Negative

17 Composition  More about Symmetry Symmetry can be done with patterns (Gestalt Law of Proximity) It feels safe, secure, boring

18 Composition  Focal Points in Patterning A focal point can be used to draw the eye Focal points are created by the contrast of dark/light or color

19 Composition  More about Asymmetry Asymmetry can be balanced or imbalanced Imbalanced asymmetry can create the illusion of visual weight.

20 Composition Balanced Asymmetry (Gestalt Law of Continuity) Notice how your eye moves from one circle to the other

21 Composition Imbalanced Asymmetry (Gestalt Law of Similarity) Notice how it feels heavy

22 As a designer  You can use these principles and theories to help make compositions to Draw the eye of the audience Give your composition an emotion Tell a story without words

23 Homework  Read Chapter 5 in Digital Foundations before next Tuesday.