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q u e s t i o n s
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w h e n	d i s s e c t i n g
		i m a g e s ...

All elements of a visual image affect a viewer's response to that image and their conversation with that image.

Start at the end...

1. What is the image creator's main point in creating that image?
   What is the overall mood of the image?
2. What are the elements used by the image creator to communicate his mood?
   1. Color
      What are the predominant colors used?
      Why were these colors used?
   2. Typography
      What typeface (if any) is used?
      Why?
      How does the shape of the letters reinforce the creator's message?
      Why?
      How is the type arranged?
      (for example: center alignment, justified, lots of white space)
      Why?
   3. Subject
      What is the main subject in the image?
      Why?
      What is the main subject doing?
      Why?
      What is the audience's relationship with the subject?
      (Look for eye contact.)
      Why?
      Where is the viewer in relationship to the subject?
      (for example: far away, up close, above, below)
      Why?
   4. Image Size and Display
      What is part of the image is displayed?
      Does the image bleed (run) off the page?
      Is part of the image cut off?
      Why?
   5. Image Type
      How is the image rendered?
      Is it realistic (photographic) or unrealistic (cartoon) or a mix of the two?
      Has the image been manipulated digitally?
      Why?
   6. Movement through the Image
      How does your eye travel through the image?
      (look for color, angle, direction of line, subject's gaze, etc.)
      Why?
   7. Think about the combination of elements and principles of design.
      How are these used by the creator to reinforce the main point?
      Elements:point, motion, line, shape, direction, space, color, light, scale, dimension, texture, form
      Principles: simplicity, harmony, legibility, point of view, movement, clarity, organization, unity, variety, rhythm, balance, emphasis, perspective, framing, proportion.
   8. Page Layout
      How does the overall layout of the page reinforce the mood?
      (lots of white space, symmetrical layout, grid structure)
3. Look at EVERY aspect of the image and how it is rendered and ask
   "Why? What is the creator's intention?"