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Visual_orderVisual_order

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nten

t

figure/ground

similarityproximityclosurecontinuance

translationrotationreflectionglide/reflectiondilation

symmetric balanceasymmetric balanceambiguous balanceneutral balance

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Gestalt is a pysochological term that means “uni-fied whole”. The human eye naturally organizes visual elements into groups. German psyocholo-gists developed this visual perception theory in the 1920’s to better describe why and how things are aesthetically pleasing.

principles of grouping

Gestalt Laws of Grouping

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VVVV

VV

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Figure/Gro

und

- Co

mpo

sition

is identified

by figure an

d backgro

un

d.

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9

Sim

ilarity- O

bjects that resemble one another are often percieved as a group.

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S S

S

S S

S

11

Proxim

ity- Elements in close range are identified as a set.

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13

Closure- A

n incomplete object is identified as a w

hole when the view

er’s eye completes m

issing information.

UUU

U

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AA

AAAAAA

AA

AAAA

AAAAAAA

AAA AA AA

AA

AAAA

A A

AAA A

AA

A A

AA

AAAAAA

AA

AAAA

AAAAAAA

AAA AA AA

AA

AAAA

A A

AAA A

AA

A A

AA

AAAAAA

AA

AAAA

AAAAAAA

AAA AA AA

AA

AAAA

A A

AAA A

AA

A A

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Contin

uance- Figures tend to be integrated into perceptual w

holes when in alignm

ent and implying a m

utual direction.

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SS

first proposed by Gestalt psychologists to account for the observation that humans naturally perceive objects as or-ganized patterns and objects. Gestalt psychologists argued that these principles exist because the mind has an innate disposition to perceive patterns in the stimulus based on certain rules.

symmetric operations

symmetry

In this section, the correspondence betweenelements on the picture plane are observed. The viewer’s eye is directed and moves across theimage in relation to the alignment of the objects.

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19

Translation- The figure is m

apped out into equal linear points of correspondence

LLL

L

LL

L

LLL

LLL

LLLL

LL L

LLLLL

LL

LL

LLL L

LL L

LL L

LL

LLL

LLL

LLL

LL

L LL

L L L L L

L L L LLL L L L L

LLL

L

LL

L

LLL

LLL

LLLL

LL L

LLLLL

LL

LL

LLL L

LL L

LL L

LL

LLL

LLL

LLL

LL

L LL

L L L L L

L L L LLL L L L L

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21

Rotation- T

he figure is turned on a predetermined point. A

ll elements are at a fixed distance from

the axis.

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23

Reflection- T

he figure is rotated on the plane 180 degrees. The result is a m

irrored image.

RRRRRRR

R

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14DDDD

25

Glide R

eflection- Figure is rotated from the plane 180 degrees, gliding into a new

position.

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Dilation- A

n element changes in size at regular intervals

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eee e

eee

e eeeee

e e eeeee

ee

e

eee

e

eee

ee

eee

e ee

e

e

ee e

e

e

ee

ee

ee

e

ee

ee

e

eeeeee

ee

ee

ee

ee

ee

ee

eee e

eee

e eeeee

e e eeeee

ee

e

eee

e

eee

ee

eee

e ee

e

e

ee e

e

e

ee

ee

ee

e

ee

ee

e

eeeeee

ee

ee

ee

ee

ee

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BB

Balance is characterized by the distribution of elements within a composition. The relationship between forms on the picture plane are percieved based on the natural equilibrium in the human body. Forms can be placed to direct the eye and communicate the mes-sage to the viewer.

compositional balance

Balance

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Symm

etrical Balance- C

omposition is balanced w

ith elements relating to the sam

e central axis. r rr

rrr

rr

rr

rrr

r

r rr

rrr

rr

rr

rrr

r

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11111

1

11

11

1

1

1

11111

11 1

1

1 111

111111111

11111111

1

11 1

1

1 111

1111111111

1

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Asym

metric B

alance- Forms are placed irregularly in relation to a central axis.

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Am

biguous Balance- C

ompostion contains elem

ents that posess an unclear relationship and balance. 44

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Neutral B

alance- Elements are placed at random

creating a compostition that lacks em

phasis.