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Wow - I am definitely watching this thread! As the one who posted "embellishment-impaired" yesterday, I feel that I can always learn from ones who know!
One of the important points that was made was remembering that people look from left to right...because that's how we read. I see cards often that forget this principle and they have things "reading" right to left and what happens is your eye jerks back and off the card. You do not want to point people's eyes off of your card but take them on a visual journey that is natural. Sometimes it is very awkward if the focus and eyecatching element on your card is on the left. If you do that you have to be very careful to work for a good balance. This is a great thread and as an "old" graphic design person I often see things that violate a lot of the basic design principles that have been shared.
Margaret
Help!! Totally confused...not unusual for me anyway
Quote:
Originally Posted by Margaret Wilburn
One of the important points that was made was remembering that people look from left to right...because that's how we read. I see cards often that forget this principle and they have things "reading" right to left and what happens is your eye jerks back and off the card. You do not want to point people's eyes off of your card but take them on a visual journey that is natural. Sometimes it is very awkward if the focus and eyecatching element on your card is on the left. If you do that you have to be very careful to work for a good balance. This is a great thread and as an "old" graphic design person I often see things that violate a lot of the basic design principles that have been shared.
Margaret
Since it is a natural eye movement to read left to right, shouldn't I be putting my focus point on the left? :confused: Thanks for any attempt to un-confuse me Terri S.
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As you get more advanced, you can experiment a bit and try more advanced color combinations. Here’s some tips that can help you bring your cherished memories alive:
Less Colors allow more focus to your photo. Remember your photograph is colorful enough. Adding too many colors to your page could actually distract instead of attract the eye.
Colors can actually bring meaning to emotions. If you have a sunset photo you are using, use more soothing warm colors. If you have an action photo, use more bolder colors that cause you to think energy and excitement.
Fashion always helps us when it comes to colors and what looks great and what does not. Use your mom’s golden rule: Brown matches everything and looks great.
Stickwith three color combinations and use different amounts of each color. Use a neutral color to be your main color and the dominant color (used most) in your photo to be the highlight color (used least) and then pick a third color to add interest (used between the dominant and highlight color)
Decide what your photo’s focal point color is and choose a dominant color that is darker than the focal point color.
Colors can cause a person to feel emotions. I have a color chart for Stampin' Up! that helps you pick a Stampin' Up! color and map it to an emotion...
Wow, this is a nice find on a sleepy Monday morning! I was just thinking the past few days that I need to up my technical skills a bit. Have any of you taken classes of some sort (not a degree) that have worked on this? If so, what and where did you find them? I was looking through our parks and rec brochure because I really would like to explore watercoloring but it would be fun to have it focused on card making vs. painting to create a wall hanging.
Wow, this is a nice find on a sleepy Monday morning! I was just thinking the past few days that I need to up my technical skills a bit. Have any of you taken classes of some sort (not a degree) that have worked on this? If so, what and where did you find them? I was looking through our parks and rec brochure because I really would like to explore watercoloring but it would be fun to have it focused on card making vs. painting to create a wall hanging.
Peg
do you have a stamping or scrapbook store in your area? if so, they are often a source of great classes. some stamping demonstrators are excellent artists and can provide a lot of help as well. Otherwise, it is hard to find this design information in a stamper-user friendly format. Formal design and art books are too much and there is little out there for the stamper.
It would be wonderful if someone with design talent would produce a DVD and sell it. HINT
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I wish I could find a class on this topic, or a simplified book or magazine article. If it gets too complicated, my brain fuzzes up and I can't grasp it.
Here's what would be great. If someone would find a card post a picture and tell why the elements work. I would love that.
Is there a way to see Ellen's info on her blog even though she originally posted this info over a year ago?? I would love to see what she said about this topic then.
__________________ "The earth laughs with flowers" Ralph Waldo Emerson
Is there a way to see Ellen's info on her blog even though she originally posted this info over a year ago?? I would love to see what she said about this topic then.
I have always been told that `odd numbers' work best. use 1 or 3 ribbons, 3 or 5 brads, etc - 2 and 4 don't work well. I heard this for flowers, but I find it works for embellishments too.
As I learned in 10 years of studying architecture and interior design, these are guides, not rigid criteria. But it helps to know the 'rules' so you know how to break them. Maybe we can link some of our favorite cards and discuss how they fit the principles.
__________________ Cheryl "Mom" to Jazz & Cubby bungalowdays
There's a design principal in gardening that works well for cars, similar to the "odd numbers" rule.:
Group in 1, 3, 5, or 6. For some reason those numbers work. It's funny how two of anything (flowers, hearts, etc.) looks 'odd' and un-even.
The eye goes to color. So let your main image carry the contrasting or dominant color. (you can really see this in any Disney movie, the illumination is always on one main image).
It's usually helpful to use three colors and a neutral (although mono chromatic can be stunning, it's more difficult to pull off).
bump - this is so informative..... I was hoping someone has this on an easy to read chart that I could post in my studio-
is that why this card seems to totally not work.... I need someone to dissect this card and tell me what I did wrong.
It's too big for an attachment so if you have time please take a look. (thanks)
Art is intended to provoke an emotion from a total stranger. If you�ve succeeded in this, consider yourself an artist. Paper Shanks Blog. Love me or hate me, you are still talking about me
bump - this is so informative..... I was hoping someone has this on an easy to read chart that I could post in my studio-
is that why this card seems to totally not work.... I need someone to dissect this card and tell me what I did wrong.
It's too big for an attachment so if you have time please take a look. (thanks)
I tried, but it said I didn't have permission....:(
I recommend you to read this book Masterful Color - Vibrant Coloured Pencil Paintings Layer by Layer. The theories put forth by the gals are all inside this book and more. I borrowed a copy from the library and is still not done with the theories yet. I am reading very slowly. I have always have this feeling when I look at other people's cards and my own cards. Everytime there is a section of empty space, it looks alright on other people's cards but not my own. I wonder why.
Since it is a natural eye movement to read left to right, shouldn't I be putting my focus point on the left? :confused: Thanks for any attempt to un-confuse me Terri S.
My guess is that if you put the focus on the left, the graphics have ended before they started so by the time they get to the right they're visually confused about the lack. IOW, give them something to look at "on their journey" from left to right
Im assuming this rule would work in reverse for a language such as Hebrew, which is read from right to left, and I would want to work towards the left. Does this sound right?
My guess is that if you put the focus on the left, the graphics have ended before they started so by the time they get to the right they're visually confused about the lack. IOW, give them something to look at "on their journey" from left to right
Im assuming this rule would work in reverse for a language such as Hebrew, which is read from right to left, and I would want to work towards the left. Does this sound right?
There's a new special issue of Paper Crafts magazine that will be available this week that addresses design principles. It's called "Card Design Handbook" and is filled with lots of information and fabulous samples--including one of my cards!
Oh, Joan, that was interesting. I learned a little something new about balance.
What a great thread. I have one thing to add I don't think has been mentioned, yet. Don't have your image looking off the page. In other words, if you have an image of a girl looking to the left, place on on the right side of the page so she's looking into the card, not off of the card.
