Visual literacy techniques

This is a resource for people doing visual texts. And for your visual assessment task.


VOCABULARY FOR VISUAL LITERACY
1. GAZE
• can indicate communication between a character and the viewer (demand)
• no communication with viewer (information)
• can show relationships, attitudes, emotions within text
2. PROPORTION/SCALE/SIZE
• can create the illusion of depth, 2D
• can create relationships of strength/weakness
• can create a sense of vastness
• are useful in factual/scientific type diagrams
3. THEME/GIVEN POSITION
• is usually on the left
• the given is what is known already / the new is new information, the message
4. COLOUR SATURATION
• the more grey = less saturated
• no/little grey = highly saturated
• can manipulate emotions, attitudes etc.
• can indicate the past/future
5. COLOUR HUE – creates moods
• red — active, passion, masculine, emotion, danger
• orange — excitement, desire
• yellow — warm colours, cheerful, joy, enlightenment, light hearted
• blue and associated colours — cool, calm, wisdom
• pink — sensuous, emotion, feminine, romantic
• sepia — the past or age
• green — knowledge, hope, promise
• black — evil, mysterious, powerful, fear
• white — purity, innocence, timeless, mystical
• purple — passionate, smouldering, caring
• grey — neutral, uncommitted, non-involvement
6. LIGHT AND SHADE — light sources can affect how something is represented
7. TONE – ranges from lighter to darker
8. CAMERA SHOTS – used for a variety of purposes
• Close Up – shows detail (engagement)
• Mid – further back, will show relationship to something else
• Long Distance - shows entire scene
9. ANGLES
• frontal — involvement
• side-on — detachment
• verticals/low angles (looking up) — power, dominance
• verticals/high angles (looking down) — weakness, submission i.e. they show attitude
• horizontal shots tend to give balance
10. VECTOR – a line between the doer and the done-to
When complemented by facial expression creates attitude, mood, emotion etc.
11. REPRESENTING SOMETHING BY CLASSIFYING INTO DIFFERENT TYPES
(i.e. different types of one product/thing e.g.
• a range of microphones, mouses
• set of subordinates
• superordinate + subordinates
• metonyms and icons need to be discussed
12. SYMBOLS – used to represent and idea, concept etc.
e.g. the Statue of Liberty, a Cross
13. FOREGROUND / MIDDLEGROUND / BACKGROUND
– used to indicate relationships
14. CENTRALITY – placing of the central figure, object, main idea
— focuses attention
15. SALIENCE – the importance of a figure, in relation to other objects in the picture,
— focuses attention
16. CROPPING – the picture is shortened/made smaller
17. LINE – horizontals and verticals can suggest stability
- diagonals, dots, broken lines can suggest motion
- cross-hatching can suggest solidity, calm
18. BLUR – can imply motion
19. MIST – can imply memory, gives prominence to a figure, idea
20. MOTION – normally from left to right
- slowed or still motion can be created amidst intense activity
21. TIME – is indicated by left to right progression
22. SHAPES/CONTOURS
• squarish shapes can suggest rigidity, harshness
• curves suggest flow, softness
23. PERSPECTIVE
• isometrics can be impersonal
• frontal provides a sense of depth
• side-on, looking from above etc.
• point of view
• relate to camera shots and angles