Visual Techniques

Question 1

Framing

Answer 1

Determines the amount of information given to the viewer as well as sometimes signalling a social relationship with a viewer

• (wide shots give an overall view of the scene)
• (close up shots create drama, tension and emotion)
• (extreme close up shots increase tension)
• (overhead shots show vulnerability)

Question 2

Size

Answer 2

Illustrations vary in size to establish and enhance the relationship between the viewer, image maker and the page

Question 3

Colour

Answer 3

Used both to create convincing images and suggest particular mood or feelings
- variation in tone and saturation can be used for a variety of purposes

Question 4

Demands and offers

Answer 4

Determined by the eyes of the character in the image

DEMAND
When eyes are looking directly at the viewer

OFFER
When eyes are not looking directly at the viewer or there are no characters in the image

Question 5

Juxtaposition

Answer 5

Placement and variation of text and illustration in relationship to each other

• by placing images side by side to stimulate an interaction
• can be done with images or text and images

Question 6

Vectors

Answer 6

When someone is looking or pointing a particular way that makes the reader feel that they should be looking or feeling a certain way based on the look or the image being focused on

Question 7

Salience

Answer 7

Image that first gains/grabs the readers attention

• could be a particular image, colour or text
• readers need to ask themselves ‘what is it about this particular thing that grabs my attention?’

Question 8

Symbols

Answer 8

Simple pictures that mean something else and help to make it easy for the reader to identify with aspects of the comic

Question 9

Composition

Answer 9

The way the image is constructed influence the way the image is understood
- creator purposefully composes the image to affect the way a reader feels about the subject and can trigger emotions and feelings

Question 10

Body language

Answer 10

Posture, gesture and facial expression all tell about the way that we are feeling and thinking
- animals are often portrayed with body language to develop humour

Question 11

Scale

Answer 11

Relates to the size of certain objects in an image

• used to emphasise something
• could be an emotion or feeling but is mainly used to enhance the message either in that current image or overall text

Question 12

Reading path

Answer 12

Readers understanding of what the image is about
- although everyone’s reading path is different depending on what attracts their eyes most (salience), everyone should get the message

Question 13

Angles

Answer 13

Allows different relationships to be conveyed between people and between people and objects