Visual literacy
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COVERS- bOOKS, DVDs

A DVD cover or book jacket includes:

  • A clear title and author name
  • A graphic design that reflects the films/books themes
  • A summary of the plot without giving away the ending
  • A review (opinion) about the book
Graphic designers need to think about the goal of the images they create. A book cover or DVD cover design should not only give the viewer an idea of the content and mood of the book/film, but should also be eye-catching to encourage students browsing in the shelf (like customers in a bookstore) to pick up a book/film they may not be familiar with.
They draw upon aspects such as: characterisation, plot, setting, theme
Design Principles (rules of good design) include: 

Space - the “canvas” or frame in which you are working, e.g., page or screen, as well as the space between items within it. 
Lines - can be straight or curved, vary in thickness, designated by a stroke or implied (as when aligned objects or text blocks form an implied line). Lines guide the eye of the viewer, so use of lines is an effective way to lead a viewer to the key part (focal point) of your message. 

Size - used to show the relative importance of objects and information
Pattern - repeating lines or shapes, or patterns, can be aesthetically appealing and give a sense of order or wholeness to a design
Texture - gives a sense of depth, which can give visuals a more sensual, tactile feeling. 
Value - refers to the tonality of an image.  Values are shades of gray from black to white. 
Colour - creates impact and strongly affects the mood your design conveys.  Be judicious in using vivid colours. 

Focal point - the center of interest of the design.  Be aware of where you want the viewer’s eyes to look. 
Contrast - engages the viewer by making the design more visually interesting 
Balance - the use of space in the distribution of objects and colors. The sense of balance or symmetry affects the viewer’s emotional response. For example, a perfectly symmetrical design may result in tranquility or boredom while an asymmetrical design may create excitement or anxiety. 
Rhythm - the use of lines to direct the viewer's eyes around the page or screen. Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines direct the eyes in different directions and convey different emotions. 
Perspective - providing a sense of depth (usually thought of in terms of foreground, middle ground and background). Methods for providing perspective include using a horizon line, relative size and scale of objects, linear perspective (converging lines to convey distance), and color and value (darker, richer colors appear to be in the foreground). 
Unity - consistency and cohesiveness in the overall design.  Everything works together to make one unified whole.

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  • Home
  • Using this resource
  • WHAT IS VISUAL LITERACY?
  • VISUAL TECHNIQUES
  • VISUAL LITERACY IN ADVERTISING
  • VISUAL TECHNIQUES IN PICTURE BOOKS
  • VISUAL LITERACY IN CARTOONS
  • VISUAL LITERACY WITH MOVING IMAGES
  • Writing a rationale
  • Resources
  • Visual Literacy as a DVD cover
  • Home
  • Using this resource
  • WHAT IS VISUAL LITERACY?
  • VISUAL TECHNIQUES
  • VISUAL LITERACY IN ADVERTISING
  • VISUAL TECHNIQUES IN PICTURE BOOKS
  • VISUAL LITERACY IN CARTOONS
  • VISUAL LITERACY WITH MOVING IMAGES
  • Writing a rationale
  • Resources
  • Visual Literacy as a DVD cover