TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

Visual Training-
Practice

Prepared by:
Architect: Raed M. A. Elottol
M.Sc. In Building Technology

2- Variables
Introduction
Number , Direction
Orientation, Size

Shape (Form), Interval

Texture, Density

Color; Time, Light

Visual force, Visual inertia.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

In summary, point, line, plane and volume

are the basic mass-space elements of visual
expression. Every form of life that we see or
visualize can be simplified to one of these
elements or some combination of them

The basic elements can be seen in relation to light,

color, time and movement. We see them in many
different ways. There are, however, a limited but
fundamental number of ways of varying them.
Number, position, direction, orientation;
size, shape (form), interval, texture, density, color;
time, light, visual force, visual inertia.

* Variables - Direction
Elements may be positioned according to
a certain direction.
The shape of an element may imply
direction.
Lines in the landscape may produce a
sense of direction and invite the observer
into the composition.
Natural elements show direction according
Direction to forces such as wind and waves.
The position of an element may be determined
according to a particular direction. Furthermore, it
may not appear stable; it may imply movement .
The shape of the element may also reinforce the
sense of direction; this is especially true of lines or
linear shapes

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

* Variables - Visual force

•Sensations of movement are present in static
images or objects.

• The position of elements and their shapes

can suggest an illusion of visual movement or
force.

•The action of visual forces can be

contradictory or complementary.
Visual force
•Shapes or lines superimposed on the
landscape react with visual forces in the
landform.

•Compatible shapes responding to visual force

will produce a more resolved, unified result.

* Variables - Visual force

•The phenomenon of visual force is an illusion
or sensation of movement created by a static
image, object or the juxtaposition of a number
of elements in a composition or landscape.

Visual force • Strong visual forces are the basis of such

optical illusions as the moiré
moiré effect where
often visually disturbing images appear to
pulsate, vibrate or cause straight lines to
appear to bend.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

The position of an element begins to exert a force in relation to its surroundings:

a- The central position is stable.

b- the top position is unstable.
c- the point seems to be sliding down the edge of the plane.

* Variables - Visual force

The action of visual forces can seem contradictory
or com-
com-plementary. If they contradict each other or
the apparent force of one element does not cause a
reciprocal response in another then the unresolved
tension which results can be severely disruptive
and detract from a design (see Tension). The more
an element responds to the visual forces of another
in a complementary way, the more they are
perceived as parts of an overall composition and
greater visual unity results (see Unity).
Visual force

Visual forces can be generated in several ways. The

position of a point can create a visual force; so can
shapes, especially if they have directional qualities.
Arrows and chevrons on road signs are familiar and
powerful examples of this. Lines can suggest
movement which, when combined with direction,
can produce different sensations of speed.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

* Variables - Visual force

When we look at the surroundings our eyes are
constantly and subconsciously reacting to the
visual forces present.
They are led around a scene in a dynamic way,
drawn by a whole range of features.
Obvious lines such as a sinuous road or a
meandering river invite us to follow them with our
eyes; the contrast of bright sky with darker land
attracts our attention.
Visual force It has been widely observed that for many people
the eye tends to be drawn down spurs, ridges and
convex landforms and up into hollows, valley:; and
concave landforms.

This holds true for all but the flattest landscapes.

Normally a hierarchy exists so that it is possible to
analyze a landscape in terms of strong visual forces
flowing do

Visual forces operating

in different ways ;

(a) a sideways movement compressing the black stripes;

(b) a downward force stretching and compressing the stripes;
(c) the stripes being forced apart;
(d) movement Cutting through the stripes - less responsive or harmonious compared with
the other three examples.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

* Variables - Visual inertia

-Certain objects may not show visual force:
they may suggest inertness.

• Heavy, Ultra-
Ultra-stable, horizontal forms seem
most inert.

Although most forms exhibit visual force, it is

possible for certain objects to appear more or
Visual inertia less inert. This is usually a feature of solid
volumes whose form and sometimes color
causes them to seem heavy, ground-
ground-hugging
and extremely stable.

A pyramid of shallow angle, a cube on a flat

horizontal plane, a low dome or a low, flat
Building are examples.

* Variables - Visual inertia

Even then there may be minor visual forces
running down the ridge lines of the form but
the object itself still seems very inert requiring
strong external visual forces to create any
tension.

The need for inertia may arise in order to

maintain a calm and quiet appearance
in a composition or landscape to counteract
Visual inertia Visual energy and movement elsewhere.

The use of a squat form and dark color for a

mundane and utilitarian building may help to
avoid attention being drawn to it in a
landscape of competing attractions.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.
TechEd 2005 10/8/2007 12:31 PM

Two forms which are visually extremely stable and inert.

© 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.