Thursday, May 10, 2012

Final Project Outcome

My team and I came up with great outcomes for our final project. We were glad that our audience were able to understand our main purpose and it was clear since we merged between history and fun.
We developed for videos for different target audiences. We started with the analysis and the problem, then targeted the tourist, the third video was about targeting the Moroccan/Arabic audience. Last but not the least was a combination of fun moments brought all together.








My Photo & Design Analysis...

According to all the readings I have read and also the notes and conversations that were discussed in class..
I came up with my own photo and design analysis...

Photo Analysis - Japan Recovery

This was the photo that I have chosen speak about and analyze. For several reasons I thought that this photo would be the perfect match in order to analyze according to what I have read on the chapter about Images. The first part the book talks about is the “Balance”; it means that “the deluge of images might therefore create a balance between the left and the right sides of the brain, between sense and emotions.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 121).  And if I understood well in the image I would say that there is a balance and it is all over the image.  Then was the part about “Screen Reality”, what interested more about this part was what the writer Susan Sontag mentioned, “ We will soon be living in a screen reality a substitute of real experiences and may become emotionally stunned, suspicious and narrow minded. To avoid this you we must constantly mark the border between image and reality.”(pg:121). The next part spoke about “Amateurism”, I was not aware of who took this photo, but I know it was sent to the Japanese students at Mcgill University in order for them to see what has been going on the island since the earthquake has striked Japan.  “Genuine Quality, the power of how an image or a photographer can “move between sender and receiver bringing the message to life and making it unforgettable.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 123). 
            This photo that we are looking at is basically a visual image since it is known that “visual image is created when part of our reality hits the retina.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 124). Since this is a construction image and we know that buy the fact that it is obvious for being a photograph. Especially that with all technologies that are surrounding us, we are able to differentiate between film, photography, art…etc. To begin analyzing this photo there are many steps that we have to follow. We will not need the clients’ perspective since this is just an analysis but we always need to consider what he wants to see from us in order to achieve the goal. Then comes the message and it is an important part. This photo is shown to be an expressive photo we can see how the soldier is catching the baby girl, it shows that he is caring and wants to make sure that she is safe. His smile on the other hand shows how worried he is but even though the catastrophe that surrounds them he is happy. Indeed this photo is very touchable and shows a variety of meanings love, care, sadness and hope. We can see the rest of the soldiers are marching in front of him and once in particular is smiling. The person who took this person did not care about that soldier face but instead he left his smile. I am not quite sure if he is smiling at the camera of is he smiling at the fact that his colleague is looking after a baby that he might have rescued. He left the choice to us, and it depends on how we observe this photo and how can we understand it. Also we can see the damages that are all over the photo, it reflects that the earthquake was serious and there might have been a lot of lives that were lost in that day. This child might have been found and the soldier picked her up in order to find family. With the reflection of the sunlight in her face, it shows that she brings hope with her and a happy start. In addition, this photo is also shown to be a presentative image. It was clear that the person who took this photo wanted to exemplify a certain message, and what I can visualize from the photo is that the photographer is trying to show us that there is hope and there will come better days after the earthquake. And with the soldier holding the child in a tender way, we can notice a sense of protection and safety.
Next is the context of the photo, the photo is showing us the real thing about the earthquake and the damages it has caused. It is also trying to show us the soldiers are helping with the damages that they are surrounded with. And one of them was able to rescue and help a baby. On the other hand the external context is obvious, since we can see the catastrophe that happened because of the earthquake. It is clear and understandable that the image is “harmonized with its environment or clash with it and has created a contradiction.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 134).
            The photographer’s perspective from this photo is based upon what he sees through his lens. “Photographer open the lens like a window on the world around them and record events without adding very much of themselves.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 136). All in all what he sees from the lens is what inspires him to capture that photo. So for him the scene of the soldier carrying the child was very touchable and the background helped with creating the whole theme. A good photographer is said to have a good personality, he/she needs to have time and finally needs to be responsible of this/her actions. I have noticed that the photographer who was behind taking this photo has actually “allowed his own personality to interact with the personality of the subject.” In addition to the fact that he was patient until he found the perfect scene to capture through his/her lens. It is important for us to know that photographers in general have to be patient in order to find the perfect picture that they want to capture, and in my opinion this photographer has accomplished it. He/she also respected the limit that was supposed to be taken. “There will always be a limit that must not be over stepped” (Bergstrom B. pg: 137), and that was well respected in the photo.
            The following part I would want to mention is the cut of the photo.  In this photo we can notice that it is rectangular, and that it is cut from the top going through one of the soldier’s face and going through the next soldier’s helmet. Also the main soldier carrying the baby he is just shown from the half. Since the focal point of this photo is the baby girl, this type of “horizontal rectangular format” is done for to be able to “best attract the eye of the receiver” (Bergstrom B. pg: 139). Then there is also the composition what we see from this photo is that it is “attracting and orienting the fundamental requirements” (Bergstrom B. pg: 140). Just one glance at the photo we can understand what the photographer wants to tells us. The color pink among all the other fading colors attracts us the most, so when looking into the baby and the soldier holding her we can assume that it is a rescue mission. Also this photo is asymmetrical composition, since the soldier is seen on the left of the photo, the photo wanted to create some sort of vitality and strength is making up that grid.
            The contrast an important element in a photo, the contrast is what captures our eye and allows us to observe the image the way it is. “Size, shape, strength and color contrasts are the most common in typography. A powerful and dominant element that tells us that this is the starting point of the picture.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 142). The photo is taken in a horizontal rectangular shape, that is its size and shape. The strength of the photos reflects how influential this photo is, the strength in this photo is very concrete. We can see the sunlight of the child’s face, we can see also see the shadows of the soldiers reflected on the ground. We can notice that there is a balance in the photo from both left and right sides. But the most attracting point and the focal point is unbalancing the image especially that the child is covered in a pink blanket. And pink is a color that reflects softness, tenderness and innocence which is not the case of what the soldiers and the natural disaster that is surrounding the image. We can see that the essential point is spread all over the photo and it is focused on it that’s what we call a large element photo, “everything else in the image is seen in a kind of a depth relationship to this.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 144). The light in the image is another important element, and it is obvious in the photo. The reflection of the sun helped the photographer capture what he was aiming for, and the light is known to give a “sense of the depth” to the object or person that the photographer is focusing on, and in this photo when can see direct light on the face of the child. Then the shadows of the soldiers in the background are seen as well, as I have mentioned previously. We can see how the light “comes from the top-right hand corner and the shadow will then be formed in the bottom left-hand corner.” (Bergstrom B. pg: 146).
            We can perceive that in the photo that the photographer has taken it in a “mid-shot” form. On the other hand, the photographer has chosen to take this photo in a “bird’s eye form”. It shows that he raised the arms to capture the child from above, by which he means that not only the child is important but also the soldier carrying her. Also we can see that the photo is cropped, the photographer is trying to let focus on a particular element which for him is important and wants us to notice it.
            To finalize this analysis there are some more questions that I need to ask myself since I am the receiver. “What is the picture of?” It is the baby who the soldier is carrying, holding her with care and protection around his arm, the soldier is smiling and his smile shows that he is glad to find her but at the same time he is worried. “How it is built up?” In the center of the photo we can see the baby in the arms of the soldier, the person behind taking this photo has sure chosen the bird’s eye view we can see the sun light coming straight to the baby’s eye. And the way is held creates a way for the viewer to know that she is the focal point since she is in the center of the photo. “In what context is it shown?”  From what I have seen I would say that it is shown from an external context, since the photo is harmonizing with what it is surrounded with. “Who is it aimed at?” It is aimed to the Japanese population showing them that there is still hope, and that the soldiers are doing their best in order to save everybody. “Who is the sender?” An ordinary photographer who wants to reflect how the Japanese have survived the earthquake in showing the world that there is still hope. “What is the purpose?” The purpose of the picture is to show the world that the Japanese have lost so much due to what the earthquake has done. By finding this little baby girl in the arms of the soldier it is showing us that the soldiers are doing their best in order to make sure that everyone is found and returned to his/her family. It is a call for rescue and it is a call of hope. (Bergstrom B. pg: 161).

                                                                       References
Bergstrom, B. (2008). Essentials of Visual Communication. London, UK.: Laurence King Publishing.


Design Analysis - Tiffany & Co. Packaging


The product that I have chosen to analyze is the Tiffany’s and Co. box. The way the packaging is formed gives it a wonderful touch. Tiffany’s has always known to be unique, prestigious and bring glamour along with it. The company always tries to make the best out of its products, they tend to reflect and show love, happiness, joy and celebration in every way. To be able to understand well the design of the company’s packaging we should go through several steps in order to understand and sense the quality and look for the package itself. Tiffany’s & Co. always tends to put its products that a client purchases in a blue box tied with a white ribbon that gives the product its final touch. As the author Bergstrom B. said “What is the aim and what is the message all about?” (Pg. 170). I was able to find the answer to this question on the official website of the brand. “Tiffany & Co. looks to the beauty of the natural world for design inspiration. We also look to the bounty of that world for the precious materials that give form and life to our designs.” (http://www.tiffany.com/csr/).
            Let us start by the way the brand has planned and before that it is important to know that Tiffany’s and Co. had always been known for its “Strong brand name and customer loyalty, in particular the Infamous Tiffany Blue Box” (Aragon J. & Bradley R.). For that reason discussing the design constraints, budget and goals are essential. I would say that Tiffany’s knew well what it was doing from the start since the product here know one of the most luxurious brands they have not faced any design constraints the brand produces almost everything from “precious gemstones to sterling silver.” The budget on the other hand satisfies all needs the prices start from 100 dollars to thousands of dollars and all the products can be seen along with the prices on their website. The goal of the brand to mix both prestigious products and silver made products is to “One of Tiffany’s main goals is to ensure the long-term integrity of the company’s brand by creating a “feel good” experience.”( Aragon J. & Bradley R.). There is always “something for everyone” which made it unique in all ways
            Concerning the weeding, Tiffany’s and Co. is outstanding. It is able to make the customer satisfied in all ways even if the product bought was simple. And again its costing strategy is made to fit all groups and classes of customers. On the other hand, the cost is another matter that should be discussed, the brand has always acknowledged the fact that Tiffany’s and Co. “experienced large growth for the past thirty years.  The jewelry industry relies heavily on consumer spending, which in turn relies on a strong economic climate.” (Aragon J. & Bradley R.). Also it was stated that the “Even during this highly volatile economic downturn, Tiffany and Co. is a highly attractive company and the leading competitor. The strong position that they have established in the marketplace is not likely to disappear, and it will only continue to grow once they counteract the changing environment with implementing a strategy that reiterates their founding vision.” (Aragon J. & Bradley R.).
            Tiffany’s & Co. has a big advertising campaign; they tend to focus in all aspects to attract people to them. Speaking about the A&O design, it is essential to focus on how to attract and orient the clients. For as I have mentioned previously the packaging of the brand is set to attract and create a sense of love just from looking at the package. “The Blue Box” says it all with the name on the brand titled in the middle brings all the joy with it. In addition to the ribbon that the receiver gets to open the look of the way the ribbon is tied is very attractive. Also the orienting part is obvious and clear to the receiver.
            The four design principles contrast, balance, alignment and rhythm are all important elements to have a perfect design. Taking the case of Tiffany’s & Co. I find the alignment well structured and situated in the middle of the box and the package itself. The unique blue gives it a nice and calm contrast that is not eye disturbing and represents uniqueness and so is the packaging as a whole in terms of balance. The rhythm on the other hand, it has a impact on the memory. The designers designed this particular way of packaging so the receiver will fall in love with his/her gift. And the box is a symbol meant to be kept to always remember the gift. They famous “Blue Box” cannot be thrown away, it is meant it stay memorable. I think that Tiffany’s & Co. focused on the “simple design” for their products packaging. Leaving the blue color spread all over the box and even the bag, keeping the name of the brand titled in the middle gave it the perfect look. And according to Mies van der Rohe he “expressed this approach in the classic statement “Less is more”, which means taking away everything that is surplus to requirements.”(Bergstrom B.)
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References
            Bergstrom, B. (2008). Essentials of Visual Communication. London, UK.: Laurence King Publishing.
            http://www.tiffany.com/csr/

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

How To Analyze Your Website?

Good web design may be a matter of taste. And taste varies, depending on the region and culture, as well as other factors. However, there are some standards that should always be considered. If you have only a minute to decide about the overall quality of a website, here are some guidelines to follow:


1. Don’t make me think.

When you enter a website, you should understand its purpose in two seconds. You should be able to navigate through it instantly. Does this apply to the website you have on your screen? Good. If you’re lost, leave the website. No need to continue.

2. WOW factor.

Is the website attractive? Does it make you think: “I like this idea?” You probably found a good website. Most of the websites today are a copy of a copy of a website, so when you find a website with a fresh design concept, give it an extra point.

3. White space.

This is the space which is NOT filled with images and text. When a website is completely covered with content, even into the tiniest corners, it is barely legible. The use of more “white space” drastically increases clarity.

4. Navigation.

As already mentioned above, a clear navigation system has to answer two questions instantly: ‘Where am I?’ and ‘Where can I go from here?’. If you get this information at a glance, the navigation is great.

5. Typography.

This is an area where inexperienced web designers make the most mistakes. Typography should be used to transport content to the reader. The way type is chosen (serif and sans serif) size and appearance, line length, line spacing, and kerning increases or decreases legibility. It is not about how many kinds of type in crammed in the smallest available space, but about you, the reader. Less is more.

6. Grid.

How are the web pages organized? Are they organized at all? When text and images are aligned in a way that the overall impression translates into clarity, harmony, and comfort, the website gets credits. A well organized website has an invisible grid underneath it. If content is placed wildly all over the page, the designer probably had no idea where he was going with the design and now neither does the visitor.

7. Colors.

There is a science called Colorimetry that dictates the rules used for color theory in the graphic design industry. Despite such theory and science, it all comes down to a simple statement: there are colors that fit and others that don’t. Colors in web design should be used to emphasize or to support content. When the colors distract the visitor, the design has failed.

8. Consistency.

Is the overall visual impression of the website the same from page one to page “end?” Or does the design change drastically? Are text and images displayed differently? The design concept of a website mimics that of a book: it has to be consistent from the first to the last page.

9. Browser Compatibility.

All browsers are different, and—sorry, it’s true—they all allow different rules and code in websites. So sometimes websites look good in Firefox but look terrible, or won’t even show up, in Internet Explorer. Professional web designers know this and only use code that will be interpreted in the very same way in all browsers. Check a website in all browsers to see how it performs.

10. Speed.

If you can make yourself a cup of tea while you’re waiting for a website to open completely in your browser, there is something amiss. Either you have an extremely slow Internet connection or the website is way “too heavy”. Even today, with super high speed Internet, a website should be built light and fast. With today’s technology, it is possible to present even the largest images crisp and clear with almost no remarkable problems with file size and website loading times.
If you practice, you can analyze a website quickly by following the 10 points you read above. Practice and sharpen your analytical skills and have fun.


How to Analyze a Photograph PART 2





Understanding the basic composition of a photograph helps others gain a higher appreciation of the art form and can help photographers improve on their technique. It's not hard to learn what look for in a photograph and what makes one photograph more appealing than another.



Follow These Steps to Know How to Analyse a Photography




    • 1
      Look for the photo's meaning. Ask yourself what is the photographer trying to achieve in a particular photograph. Look for hidden meanings, shapes, symbols or colors that may invoke certain emotions. Look for facial expressions in images that display emotions: nervous, angry or amusement.
    • 2
      Study the lighting of the photo. Was the photograph taken in a studio, outside right before the sun set or is the subject illuminated by window light? Photographers love to take photos during "golden hour," the hour before sunset or after sunrise where everything turns a golden color and elongates shadows. Also, look for colors and shapes in the photos. Sometimes the photographer uses those two aspects to project a deeper meaning.

    • 3
      Ask yourself why a photo appeals to you. You can look for certain tricks that photographers use. One is the rule of thirds, when the subject is slightly off center.
      Also look for lines that will lead into a subject. Sometimes that may break the rule of thirds for a photographer because the subject could be centered. An example of this is the effect of a subject standing in the middle of train tracks or a tree line can make the photo more appealing.
    • 4
      Figure out where the image was taken. Sometimes you can see where it was taken because of foreground framing. Foreground framing takes a piece of the environment and puts it on the edge of the photograph, while still showing the action going on. For example, the photographer could use a fire hydrant in the city while showing fire fighters rushing to a burning building. The possibilities are endless.
    • 5
      Examine the depth of field and pay attention to the small details. What are people wearing? Does the photograph show a busy street or does it allow you to see a lone man standing beside a wall? Remember photographs show pieces of life and there are times when the art is giving an overarching story. Examine the facial expressions and body language if applicable.
    • 6
      Look at the photograph's title and step back one more time to look at it from a distance. You can miss bigger things when looking at the small stuff and overlook small things by looking at the big picture. Find the overarching action and soak in the emotion of the photo before moving along.




Thursday, April 12, 2012

Symbolism of Colors


Colors

    According to Henry Dreyfus, Japanese, in contrast with Westerners, grasp colors on an intuitively horizontal plane, and pay little heed to the influences of light. Colors whether intense of soft, are identified not so much on the basis of reflected light or shadow, but in terms of the meaning or feeling associated with them. 
    Color symbolism can vary dramatically between cultures.  Research has also shown that most colors have more positive associations with them then negative.  So, although some colors do have negative connotations (such as Black for a funeral or for evil), these negative elements are usually triggered by specific circumstances.  Peoples age also has an effect on how colors are perceived.  For example, children tend to like bright, happy colors.  I've included some of the meanings that each color can represent. 



Black

Black is the color of the night, and of "evil."  Black can also be a color of elegance or class (such as a black-tie only event, and black evening gowns.)  Black can also represent ideas such as power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, and mourning.  Black can also represent a lack of color, the primordial void, emptiness. It can also mean sorrow or mourning, in the Christian tradition of wearing black to funerals.According to Henry Dreyfus, Black, sumi, is the color of mystery and solemnity; the color of the night. Black expresses the depths of the unknown, and encourages the imagination of a different world from that of daylight realities. Used by itself, black can represent bad luck or misfortune.

Black/White

Black and white stands for mourning and cheerless occasions.  For example, traditional garb for a funeral is black and white.  Black for the loss, and white for their passing onto the heavens.

Blue

Blue is the color of the Virgin Mary, and is associated with girls who have similar pure qualities. In addition, it is the color of water and the sea, with all the symbolic references already discussed for that element - that is, blue usually indicates femininity, life, purity, etc., just as water does.Blue can also symbolize peace, calm, stability, security, loyalty, sky, water, cold, technology, and depression.
According to Henry Dreyfus, indigo blue, ai, mirrors the color of the vast ocean surrounding the Japanese islands. This shade of blue is very commonly seen in Japanese art and clothing.

Brown

Brown represents the ideas of earth, hearth, home, the outdoors, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.

Gold

According to Henry Dreyfus, gold, kin, can evoke the sensation of looking upon waving fields of ripened rice stalks. Gold is also associated with royalty. It represents the color of the heavens, and is used to decorate statues of the Buddha and religious temples.

Green

Green can represent nature, the environment, good luck, youth, vigor, jealousy, envy, and misfortune.According to Henry Dreyfus, green, midori is regarded as the color of eternal life, as seen in evergreens which never change their color from season to season. In the word midori, both trees and vegetation are implied. One characteristic of Japanese culture can be found in the fusion of life and nature.

Orange

Orange can represent energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, flamboyant, and demanding of attention.

Pink

The color pink usually serves two purposes.  It can be used to show childish innocence, or a characters child-like personality.  For example, Mami (the girl at the top of the page with the pink hair), very much wants to remain a child.  She gets pleasure out of very simple, and 'childish' things.  So, her hair is pink.  Even so, Miho-chan also would like to grow up and become an adult woman… but she's also afraid of losing her childhood innocence.  It can also be used to show a more flirtatious personality.  Pink is normally a color associated with girls and femininity.Pink is considered a color of good health and life - we speak of people being "in the pink" or the "freshness" of a newborn babe.
Lastly, pink is associated with sexuality, and purity.  That is, a girl who is a virgin in heart and body. Pink is symbolic of pure love, for example.  It is also the color used for sexual advertisements and such, to indicate the purity of the girls.

Purple

Purple can represent royalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mysterious, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, and mourning.

Red

Red can symbolize many things; from blood, to love, to infatuation.  Basically red symbolizes strong emotions, or things of strong emotions rather than intellectual ideas.  For example, red can symbolize excitement, energy, speed, strength, danger, passion, and aggression.According to Henry Dreyfus, it is popularly felt that red, the color of blood and fire, represents life and vitality. Red also signifies the color of the sun: a symbol of energy, radiating its vitalizing life-force into human beings. Red is also looked upon as a sensual color, and can be associated with man's most profound urges and impulses.  Ironically, red cats symbolize bad luck.

Red/White

According to Henry Dreyfus, the word for red and white, Kohaku, is pronounced as one word in Japanese. Ko means red, while haku translates as white. Their use together immediately signifies happiness and celebration to the Japanese viewer. The combination of red and white in the decorative ornaments used on wedding or engagement presents -noshi or kaishi- has a compelling quality that suggests man's urge to create a bond between his own life and that of the gods.  Red and white are also the colors of the uniforms that shrine maidens wear (denoting these colors divine nature.)Red and white are the colors of the Japanese flag; the red signifies the sun.

Silver/Grey

Silver/Grey symbolizes security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, maturity, conservative, old age, sadness, and boring.

White

White is a sacred and pure color.  It's the color of angles and gods, as the color reflects that which is sacred and pure.   It is also the color of doctors, nurses, and others in the health profession, as well as cleanliness. In fact, the Japanese refer to nurses as "Angels in White".White can also represent reverence, purity, simplicity, peach, humility, youth, winter, snow, good, cold, clinical, and sterile.

Yellow

Yellow can symbolize joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, gold, dishonesty, cowardice, deceit, illness, and hazard.

For more information

    About.com has more information at this link  It includes information such as specific colors having specific meanings and feelings associated with them in different cultures and in different parts of the world, as well as more general meanings that colors have:http://webdesign.about.com/compute/webdesign/library/weekly/aa070400b.htm




Thursday, April 5, 2012

How to Analyze a Photography PART 1

Photographs are everywhere in today's society. From news articles to advertisements, we see photographs used in many forms of media. It can be argued that a photograph isn't simply a moment captured in time, but that it also has an intended meaning and hopes of an effect on its audience. 

When most of us look at a photograph, we simply see the meaning on the surface. But photographs can have deeper meanings. Photographers, just like writers and other artists, use a set of rules to convey meaning in their work. They use the tricks of their trade to mean one thing on the surface, and mean something completely different upon closer examination. As the saying goes, a photograph says a thousand words.

Below are some things to consider when analyzing a photograph.

1. What does the camera angle tell us about the photograph? A low angle might make the subject seem larger than reality, while a high angle makes the subject look very small.

2. What does the framing tell us about the photograph? What is the main focal point of the photograph? How is the subject framed within the photo? A close-up might convey more power than a wide shot might. What is in the background of the photograph, and does that background add to the photo's overall message?

3. What does the lighting tell us about the photograph? Is the subject lit very brightly, giving the impression of clarity and openness, or is the subject darkly lit, giving the impression of something mischievous or devious going on? Is the lighting soft with barely any shadows, or hard with sharp shadows.

4. What does the subject and its positioning tell us about the photograph? If there is more than one subject in the photo, how do the subjects relate to each other? Do we see the entire subject, or only a portion of it? If the subject is a person, is he/she looking at the camera or looking away? Is he/she serious, happy, sad, or mischievous?


How is the American flag used in each photograph? What does the flag represent in each photograph?






Sunday, April 1, 2012

Colors


Touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing—these are the ways
we get our information about the world, about where we live and
where we work. But the world of humans is primarily a world of sights,
with 90 percent of what we know of the world coming to us through
our vision.

What we see is color. Objects, landscapes, faces all register in our
brains through the light that enters the eye, sent to us from a luminous
—or light-producing—object (such as a red-hot iron or a glowing
incandescent light) or as light reflects off a nonluminous object (such
as a tree or a table). The eye’s retina absorbs the light and sends
a signal, or sensation, to the brain. This sensation makes us aware of
a characteristic of light, which is color.
The visual equipment we use to see light and its characteristic color is
the same for everybody, and when it’s working, it works very well—
the National Bureau of Standards estimates that the human eye can
distinguish over 10 million different colors. However, color does more
than just give us objective information about our world: It affects
how we feel. To know this, we need only recall how a string of grey,
overcast days lowers our spirits or how working in a drab, dull room
leaves us listless.
With so much of what we know and feel coming from what we see,
you’d think we’d all be experts on color. In a way, we are. No one has
to tell you what you’re seeing or how you’re feeling as you sit in the
glow of a late summer sunset. But how would you describe the pink
of that sky? Dazzling? Fleshy? Glistening? Iridescent?
The qualities we assign to our perceptions of colors—to the way they
make us feel—are called indeterminate attributes. They cannot be
measured; rather, they arise from our intuitive experience of color.
These indeterminate attributes provide the mystery of color and range
from the poetic language we use to express our perceptions of color
to the psychological effects of color on our mood.


There are the functional and the non functional colors. The functional it is all about Attraction, Creating Atmosphere, Inform, Structuring, Teaching. Colors must have a communicative function and should attract through color strength. Create atmosphere with the help of cold or warm colors for example.
Inform, as in a hospital where yellow indicated infection. Structure, as in a newspaper where different sections are color coded. Teach for instance through tint blocks which emphasize and clarify certain parts of the materiel.

Natural Color Theory
The most common system of describing colors is the Natural Color System, which is based on research into how humans perceive color. This system is described in the color space, the color circle and the color triangle.



CMYK Color is short for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black.

CMYK is a color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors. CMYK is the standard color model used in offset printing for full-color documents. Because such printing uses inks of these four basic colors, it is often called four-color printing.

RGB Color which stands for Red-Green-Blue.

Display devices generally RGB as color model. RGB and CMYK have different color Gamuts (Gamuts simply means the range of colors which can be produced) RGB has larger gamut than CMYK.
Every visual presentation involves figure-ground relationships. This relationship between a subject (or figure) and its surrounding field (ground) will evidence a level of contrast; the more an object contrasts with its surrounds, the more visible it becomes.
When we create visuals that are intended to be read, offering the viewer enough contrast between the background (paper or screen) and the text is important. Text presentations ideally offer at least an 80% contrast between figure and ground. (Black text on a white background is ideal.) If there is not enough contrast between figure and ground, a viewer will squint to view the text, causing eye fatigue.

Color Combinations

Color combinations may pass unnoticed when pleasing, yet offend dramatically when compositions seem to clash. One outcome we seek in the final form or composition, is a successful use of color.
We determine whether or not we are successful by critically assessing the visual balance and harmony of the final composition—balance and harmony are achieved by the visual contrast that exists between color combinations. Planning a successful color combination begins with the investigation, and understanding, of color relationships.
Using a color wheel and a template, the relationships between colors are easy to identify.
Monochromatic Relationship
Monochromatic Relationship Colors that are shade or tint variations of the same hue.
Complementary Relationship
Complementary Relationship Those colors across from each other on a color wheel.















The Importance Of Colors

Friday, March 30, 2012

Typography

Typography And Its Importance

Typography was earlier presumed to be just a phase in web design which could be either used or overlooked depending on the time available to complete a website. Without being aware of its importance, the designers designing the website were using any typeface and alignment format which they felt to be appealing. But lately, typography has been identified as a standard system which acts as a balance between the visual graphics of the web page and the verbal content that is displayed.It has been observed that as a reader, all that one notices first in a website is the visual graphics. Later, with the same tone of insight, the reader starts reading thecontent that basically aims at explaining to him / her more about the service or the product that the website deals with. In this case, researches have proved the essentiality of having typography in line with the graphical design of the website. Again, the difference between the display quality of a content displayed in a web page and in a conventional magazine is that the limitations that are noticed in the case of web pages are much higher than those in conventional pages.The most important point that one has to remember while selecting the typeface for the websites is that it is not guaranteed that the same font that is selected and used in the website would be displayed on the reader’s screen. This depends on the availability of the same font in the reader’s system and the process is long and requires the involvement of the web browser, web server and the operating system used by the reader. With the various limitations in mind, it is always advisable to use ‘Arial’ or ‘Times New Roman’ or ‘Verdana’ or any other generic typefaces which we are sure would be available in the reader’s system as well. Other rare stylish fonts can be used and converted to .jpeg files before being placed in the website in case there should be a need for the use of the font in the website. The size of the system display monitor is another factor that needs to be considered.Above all, legibility of the text that is displayed is very important as the main purpose of having the text is that it should be read and understood by the readers. And perhaps, only legible text could motivate any reader to read further. The various text blocks are to be partitioned and aligned appropriately along with proper highlight for headlines and sub-titles. The line spacing between any two lines should also be appropriately set depending on the font size. This is to be considered as a very essential and crucial point as too much space (or white gap) between the sentences would confuse the reader making it difficult for him / her difficult to find the start of the next line. Closely packed lines cluster the whole text.Though these are minor points, but when attended to carefully they would make a lot of difference in improving the standard of the website. XEL Web Design adheres and pays attention to each and every minor factor that contributes to the betterment of a design. This can also be mentioned as one of our strengths and the secret of our success.


Typography is one of the visual elements that can be used to create great web design. And the importance of good web typography is proportionate to that of good web design.
Good typography helps to establish good visual hierarchy, leading the reader across the page in accordance to the level of importance of the different text and images. It can also provide visual punctuation and graphic accents to help readers to connect text with images, and headlines with content.


Visual structure essentially consists of the following elements; image, type and colours. In order to create a good design, designers must understand the relation of these elements with each other so that they will make good artistic choices that are complimentary, working together instead of in opposition.

Simple and Strong Typography

Simplicity is very effective in design, but to create a good simple design is no easy task. To ensure readability, it is best to use 15 words or less for headlines. White type against a black background also increases readability due to its high contrast. Using a strong bright colour gives emphasis to a headline while a more subtle colour for the rest of the text can help accentuate the headline as well.
Minimalist web designs like the one shown below also allows the typography to stand out and draw attention to its content.

The Typeface

In typography, a typeface is the visual representation or interpretation of a set of characters; it is their appearance. Each typeface is designed, and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly.
The art and craft of designing typefaces is called type design. Designers of typefaces are called type designers. In digital typography, type designers are sometimes also called font developers or font designers.
Typeface is the design of glyphs which is the looks of characters. The same glyph may be used for characters from different scripts, e.g. Roman uppercase A looks the same as Cyrillic uppercase А and Greek uppercase alpha, and there are typefaces tailored for special applications, such as map-making or astrology and mathematics.
The term typeface is frequently confused with term font or used as a synonym. Before the advent of digital typography anddesktop publishing the two terms had a more clearly understood meaning.
The type families consist of Romans, Sans Serif, Slab Serifs, Scripts, Decorative Style.
Then there is also the Digital typefaces as in Georgia, Verdana.
And of course there is the strong typography, the headings, the optical letter-spacing, subheadings, new paragraph, and finally individual words and characters.