
They stretch from the earth to the heavens and are often connected with religious feelings. Vertical lines accentuate height and convey a lack of movement, which is usually seen as horizontal. They can suggest stability, especially when thicker. They are filled with potential energy that could be released if they were to fall over. Vertical lines are perpendicular to the horizon. Horizontal lines by their connection to the horizon are associated with earth bound things and idea. The convey an absence of conflict, a restful peace. They suggest calm and quiet, a relaxed comfort. They look like they’re lying down, at rest, asleep. Horizontal lines are parallel to the horizon (hence the name). Thick lines are bold and make a statement. They suggest strength and give emphasis to nearby elements. Thick lines on the other hand appear difficult to break. They are delicate and give off an ephemeral air. They suggest frailty and convey an elegant quality. What do these characteristics mean and what do they communicate? (.doc) You likely won’t use gesture lines (based on the technical definition) in a web design, but you could certainly create patterns of lines to signify motion or build up a formĪs I mentioned above there are a lot of different ways we can describe a given line and each gives a line unique characteristics. They are generally used when studying the shape and motion of the human form.


There are several types of lines defined by their use. A curved lines send a different message than a sharp straight line. Thick lines convey a different meaning than thin lines.
#Definition of contour lines in art series#
Draw a series of 3, 4, or 5 points and your mind will fill in the line between them.Įach of the different ways we draw or represent a line gives it unique characteristics. There’s an endless variety in what we think of as a line. Lines can be curved or straight of combinations of both. The can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. It’s also the path made by a moving point. The Grammar of LinesĪ line connects two points. What types of lines are at our disposal? What do different lines communicate? Next time we’ll talk about shapes and ask some of the same questions about them. We’ve talked about color theory and color meaning in the past as well as using whitespace in design. It’s one of the building blocks of visual grammar, which are usually defined to include: Color is one way we communicate visually. For example choosing a color scheme with a dark blue as dominant sends a very different message than if the dominant color is hot pink.

Web and graphic designers communicate visually. We’ve all developed a grammar for communicating with physical gestures and we communicate as much if not more with body language than we do with verbal language. What happens when words won’t do? If you want someone to look in a certain direction you might point in that direction. You might even start long before you move in preparation for being able to communicate with the people you’ll soon call neighbors.Ĭommunication is an essential part of life and as web designers it’s what we do with every new design. If you moved to another country (where they don’t speak the same language as you), one of the first things you’d probably do is start learning the language.
