Old 07-6-2005, 11:27 AM   #1
aperson
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Default Gestalt Theory and you

Theory behind motion and focus in design:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology

Breaking things into blocks of motion, or gestalts, is an easy way to create a fluid point of focus and cohesion in graphics. Basically gestalt theory discusses ways to imply direction and force in pieces due to shape, color, weight, and tonal balance.

You see where this is going? Learning gestalt theory will get rid of this '3d blob crap' and actually lead to art with focus and power. If you want a prime example of a piece that consciously uses concepts of Gestalt theory, look at my transit subystem. Notice how the flow and all of the leading lines point to the text at the bottom giving the piece a strong focal point.



I'll break down one of my pieces to explain this concept



Firstly, the point of focus is at 7. Everything in this piece leads to that point.

1&2: The arrow gives the piece an immediate downward motion. To compliment this with color balance, the gradiation marked by 2 pulls the viewers eyes down.

Similarly, in 4, the vertical pixel stretch implies a vertical flow and brings the readers eyes from the top down. At the very top of the image the piece is already singularly focusing on bringing the viewer's eyes down to the bottom part.

3 is the main leading connection from the top to the bottom. The color contrast (red to green) provides a strong visual cue, and the direct crossover from top to bottom makes it stand out very well in this piece. This is why I chose it to be the piece that points to the main point of focus. Notice how the connecting block, 6, points directly to the main text.

5 is the piece that unifies the piece in the middle from the left hand side. We can consider the top broken into two parts: On the left you have the gradiation bringing the eyes down, and on the right you have the red line and the darker images bringing them down. So, since the right is unified by 3 and 6, the left is unified by 5. 5, like 6, uses the colors and the diagonal direction of the lines as pointers to lead the eyes towards the middle.



See folks, everything in this piece is working to bring you to the point of focus. Things are not all over the place, they have purpose. That's why this piece is aesthetically pleasing, it has a strong since of motion that pulls the eyes to one place.
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Old 07-6-2005, 01:38 PM   #2
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Default RE: Gestalt Theory and you

I like this theory. Neat explanation, aperson. A shame the picture isn't horizontal, I might have used it as a wallpaper for my two-screen desktop.
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Old 07-6-2005, 04:08 PM   #3
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Default RE: Gestalt Theory and you

Very nice. I don't have time to read about it cuz i wanna eat. I check it out again later.
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Old 07-6-2005, 07:50 PM   #4
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Default RE: Gestalt Theory and you

"Firstly, the point of focus is at 7. Everything in this piece leads to that point."

Not trying to be a dick but the correct term is "Focus Point" not "Point of Focus". It doesn't matter but I was just pointing it out.
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Old 07-6-2005, 08:02 PM   #5
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Default Re: RE: Gestalt Theory and you

Quote:
Originally Posted by rydenHS
"Firstly, the point of focus is at 7. Everything in this piece leads to that point."

Not trying to be a dick but the correct term is "Focus Point" not "Point of Focus". It doesn't matter but I was just pointing it out.
Actually point of focus or focal point work.

If you're going to be a nitpicking retard at least do it right.
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Old 07-6-2005, 08:08 PM   #6
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Default RE: Re: RE: Gestalt Theory and you

I was about to say that XD

I never really think about this stuff when I make art. Alot of my abstract tends to have focus though, when I actually take my time and create something. But its really easy to get sloppy. This stuff does make your art look very professional.
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Old 07-10-2005, 02:03 PM   #7
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Whoa. This is sort of inspired me to do some of this stuff. Thanks for the infos, ap.
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Old 07-10-2005, 04:29 PM   #8
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Default

I don't like the lower left hand corner... all the rest of the brown film stuff or whatever (I don't know the right words) leads to the words and down the subway... but that part in the lower left is over a part of the wall that runs at right angles to the rest of the subway and it just looks weird. It feels like the brown stuff should "stick" to the walls, but in that particular region it just sort of floats over it. maybe adding a horizontal gradient where that part of the subway wall comes in and moving the angle that's about an inch below your number five to the actual corner of the walls would help.

Other wise it's pretty cool.
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