Line and Shape

edge, contour, closure, intersection of planes, imita- tion through distance, axis, and track.

Edge - edge of a 2d surface creates the line. Only visible if there is tonal or color contrast to pop it out.

examples: sheet of white paper against black, shadows cast on wall

Contour - the apparent line around the border of a 3d object

Closure - connect the dots, etc. Viewers create lines through connecting dots on screen

Intersection of planes - When two planes meet, they appear to form a line

Imitation through distance - complex objects recede into lines at a distance

Axis - invisible axis that runs through people, objects, etc

Track - the path an object makes as it moves across the screen

Linear motif - any pic can be reduced to simple lines. A pic's linear motif can be circular, straight, horiz, vert, or diagonal, or any combination of.

Horizontal - calming, least intense of all line motifs

Verticial - authoritarian, more intense

Diagonal - dynamic, most intense of all line motifs

Straight lines:

• direct

• aggressive

• bland

• honest

• industrial

• ordered

• strong

• unnatural

• adult

• rigid

Curved lines:

• indirect

• passive

• natural

• childlike

• romantic

• soft

• organic

• safe

• flexible

• Actors - when reduced to silhouette, what are the basic shapes?

• Scenery

• Set dressing - furniture, etc

• Simplify

Shapes:

2D:

3 basic shapes - circle, square, equilateral triangle

3D:

3 basic shapes - sphere, cube, 3 sided pyramid

All objects/shapes can be reduced to these basic shapes

Circle - benign, innocent, cute

Square - less cute than circle, rigid

Triangle - most dynamic of the shapes, because:

1. contains diagonal

2. Can be used to POINT in a direction - it's an arrow!

triangles often are described as bold, aggressive, dynamic, angry, menacing, scary, chaotic, disorienting, and unorganized

Contrast and affinity - circle and triangle have maximum contrast

Creating a linear motif storyboard to help discover/plan contrast/affinity in your shots