Emphasis
By Hyunsook Kim
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Emphasis is one of the principles of design that cause one element or area of an image to be more important than the other parts. This is called the focal point. A focal point draws your attention to the most important element on the page. The sequence in which the viewer sees the parts of an image and the relative importance of each are controlled by emphasis. Emphasis gives images interest, counteracting confusion and monotony. |
Most arts intend to tell a story or present a point of view. You should be able to control what will be noticed first, what is dominant in an image, and where the viewers' attention will go from there. Contrast, location, convergence and the unusual can be used to create emphasis. Sometimes one or more elements can give emphasis in an image.
Contrast produces maximum visibility. The more contrast there is the more noticeable an item is. Color/value, size, shape, direction and so on can be used to control emphasis.
| The red radishes, which are located in the middle of green vegetables, draw viewers' attention. Green and red make strong color contrast. Red vegetables give a strong visual impact. |  |
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The most of elements are blue and just one thing has different color can also grab our attention, even though the things are not contrastable. Splendid colors are more attractive than dull color. Monotonous is disappeared by sudden special fruits-pattern shoes. |
| The light shining on the tree makes attention. The tree in the middle of the image stands away from background.Because this tree has strong value contrast, it is more dominant on the image than trees with lesser value contrast. |  |
Where items are in relation to the format and each other can affect emphasis. The most important place in the format is the center. That is where the viewer looks first and so anything that is there is likely to be noticed first. The further from the center, the less noticeable an item becomes.
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This is the ceiling of Texas State Capitol in Austin. The rounds, which turn toward the star, affect our attention. Following the rounds, we can concentrate our attention on the star. Also the shape of the star is very different from rounds and squares. An unusual shape in regular shapes meets our eyes. |
| Isolation is a kind of placement—where something is put. An item that stands apart from its surrounding swill be noticeable. This is not likely to make an item be noticed first but can make one item stand out. If most of things in an image are grouped closely together, an abject by itself stands out as a focal point. Glass marbles at the right make a group and only a marble is isolated. In the picture to the left note that you see the group of white marbles first, but the marble you notice is the one that is isolated. |  |
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Clustered part in the middle of scattered things also can make emphasis. If a part is clustered than the other part, viewers see the part at the first sight. In the image, clustered yellow pieces grab our view. |
| At this image, only one box is open. We expect that closed box is regular thing and think open box is unusual. The open box makes psychological shock. Points of emphasis can be created by psychological impact. |  |
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Examples:
1) Gerard ter Borch II, Dutch, 1617 - 1681
The Suitor's Visit, c. 1658, oil on canvas, 80 x 75 cm (31 1/2 x 29 9/16
in.), Andrew W., Mellon Collection, 1937.1.58
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?68+0+0+gg51
This painting shows the emphasis by value contrast. The lady in the painting is shining alone and remarkable. Other three people and a dog are hidden in the dark. Also her dress color is brighter than the other mens one. Red upper garment and golden skirt is fascinating.
2) John Trumbull, The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, Oil on canvas, 12'
x 18', Commissioned 1817; purchased 1820, Rotunda
http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/rotunda/surrender_cornwallis.htm
This painting shows how a focal point can be emphasized both placement and by eye direction. Trumbull placed American General Benjamin Lincoln-he is not Lord Cornwallis- at the center on a white horse, with French officers on the left and Americans on the right. People and horses at both sides make direction to the center, and make us see the painting follow the line.
Bibliography:
Elements and principles of design
http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
Design Notes: Emphasis
http://daphne.palomar.edu/design/emphasis.html
National Gallery of Art
http://www.nga.gov/home.htm