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Principles of Design
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Kevin Bibo
Kevin Bibo teaches high school computer multimedia in Southern California. He holds a Master of Education degree and is currently a teacher credential program instructor. In addition, Kevin is the author of Cal Teacher Blog. But most importantly Kevin loves spending time with his wife and five children.
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Kevin Bibo
Create a new folder in your Documents named Principles.
RHYTHM
1. Open The Gimp
2. Create a new file by selecting File>New (Ctrl+N)
3. Use the Preset: 800×600.
4. Select the landscape button.
5. Select the Advanced Options and set the Colorspace to RGB color.
6. Fill with: White. (You will repeat these settings for every new file you create.)
7. Select File>Save As… (Shift+Ctrl+S) and name this file “01_Rhythm.xcf”
8. At Save in folder select Documents>Principles. Click Save.
9. Choose the Pencil tool (Y) and draw one straight, wide line. Make several exact copies of this line by using the Marquee, Copy, and Paste options. Choose the Circle tool and draw one circle. Fill it with a cool color.
10. Make several exact copies of this circle by using the Copy, and Paste options. You will create rhythm as you place each line and circle. Additional smaller circles may be added.
11. Save your file (Ctrl+S).
FORMAL BALANCE
1. Create a new file.
2. Name this file “02_Formal Balance.xcf” and use the Text tool (T) to place the word “Formal Balance” on the file.
3. Create a simple landscape drawing on the left half of the screen. Make a copy of the layer. Flip the duplicate layer and move it onto the right half of the screen. This will create a symmetrical landscape.
4. Save the drawing.
5. Save a copy as “03_Formal Balance 2.xcf”.
6. Open “03_Formal Balance 2.xcf.” Use the Move tool (V) to slightly rearrange the placement by moving certain objects in the landscape.
7. Compare the two drawings. Which do you prefer? Why?
8. Save your files (Ctrl+S).
INFORMAL BALANCE
1. Create a new file.
2. Name this file “04_Informal Balance.xcf” and use the Text tool (T) to place the word “Informal Balance” on the file.
3. Use the drawing tools of your choice to create a design using informal balance.
4. Save your file.
5. Save a copy as “05_Informal Balance 2.xcf”.
6. Open “05_Informal Balance 2.xcf” and use the Paint Bucket (K) tool to experiment with changes in color, value, and texture.
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7. Save experiments that you consider successful.
8. Create another new file and draw another design that illustrates informal balance. Save as “06_Informal Balance 3.xcf”
9. Save a copy as ”07_Informal Balance 4.xcf.”
10. Open “07_Informal Balance 4.xcf” and experiment with the new design.
11. Save your files (Ctrl+S).
SCALE
1. Create a new file.
2. Name this file “08_Scale.xcf” and use the Text tool (T) to place the word “Scale” on the file.
3. Copy and Paste a variety of images of people and objects from the Internet. Use the Select tool and the Copy and Paste options to assemble a collage using unrealistic scale. Use the tools of your choice to manipulate the images.
4. Save your file (Ctrl+S).
VARIETY
1. Create a new file.
2. Name this file “09_Variety.xcf” and use the Text tool (T) to place the word “Variety” on the file.
3. Draw a simple design using five or six shapes. Use the Select tool and the Copy and Paste options to make five copies of the design on the same screen.
4. Leave one design unchanged; alter the others to show a variety of contrasts. Vary contrast in color, values, and textures by using the Paint Bucket (K) tool.
5. Save your file (Ctrl+S).
CONTRAST, ISOLATION, LOCATION, AND CONVERGENCE
1. Create 7 new files.
2. Name and title a new file for each using the following:
10_Contrast Of Shape.xcf
11_Contrast Of Color.xcf
12_Contrast Of Value.xcf
13_Contrast Of Texture.xcf
14_Isolation.xcf
15_Location.xcf
16_Convergence.xcf
3. Use the drawing tools of you choice to create a series of small designs, one for each file with strong focal points.
4. See if you can create all seven designs by starting with only three designs and making alterations to them.
5. Save your files (Ctrl+S).
SIMPLICITY, HARMONY, PROXIMITY, AND CONTINUATION
1. Create 6 new files.
2. Create small designs to illustrate the following unifying devices:
17_Simplicity.xcf
18_Harmony Of Color.xcf
19_Harmony Of Shape.xcf
20_Harmony Through Space.xcf
21_Proximity.xcf
22_Continuation/Tessellations.xcf
3. Use the drawing tools of you choice to create a series of small designs, one for each file with strong focal points.
4. Can you use one illustration as the basis for another? Decide which tools and options you will need to make the necessary changes.
5. Save your files (Ctrl+S).
6. Select all of your files individually and hand them into the “hand-in” folder.
