Visual Order

VISUAL ORDER.

CONTENT

figure ground

similarity

proximity

closure

continuance

translation

rotation

reflection

glide reflection

dilation

structured space

symmetric balance

asymmetric balance

ambiguous balance

neutral balance

FIGUREGROUND

a visual field is seen as a group based on contrast

SIMILARITYtendency to group figures that have

similar characteristics

PROXIMITYtendency to group things that are close

together

CLOSUREtendency to complete figures that are

incomplete

CONTINUANCEtendency to view implied movement

derived from pattern

TRANSLATION function that moves every point a constant

distance in the specified direction

ROTATIONtransformation in a plane or in space that

describes motion around a fixed point

REFLECTIONa transformation of a figure in which each point is replaced by a point symmetric with respect

to a line or plane

GLIDE REFLECTIONa combination of reflection and translation

DILATIONobject is enlarged/reduced around a given

center point

STRUCTUREONE

STRUCTURETWO

STRUCTURETHREE

STRUCTUREFOUR

STRUCTUREFIVE

STRUCTURESIX

SYMMETRIC BALANCEmade up of exactly similar parts facing each other

around an axis

ASYMMETRIC BALANCEhaving parts that fail to correspond to one another in shape, size or arrangement; lacking symmetry,

but composition is still apparent

AMBIGUOUS BALANCEno clear focal point in the composition, different and

random elements draw the viewer’s eye around the piece

NEUTRAL BALANCEno clear or specific focal point, lack of balance and

elements are free of specific order or pattern

® juanita martinez, 2012completed as a requirement for visual communication in the graphic design department at the kansas city art institute. michael kidwell, assistant professor.