Design Tutorial: Balance

When making your layout for "Objects of my affection" try and incorporate balance.

To understand balance, think of the balance beam. When objects are of equal weight, they are in balance. If you have several small items on one side, they can be balanced by a large object on the other side. Visual balance works in much the same way. It can be affected not only by the size of objects, but also their value (ie. lightness or darkness, termed visual weight).

- Symmetrical Balance: Symmetrical balance is mirror image balance. If you draw a line down the center of the page, all the objects on one side of the screen are mirrored on the other side (they may not be identical objects, but they are similar in terms of numbers of objects, colors and other elements. Sometimes they are completely identical (often seen in architecture).
- Asymmetrical balance: Asymmetrical balance occurs when several smaller items on one side are balanced by a large item on the other side, or smaller items are placed further away from the center of the screen than larger items. One darker item may need to be balanced by several lighter items.
Although asymmetrical balance may appear more casual and less planned, it is usually harder to to use because the artist must plan the layout very carefully to ensure that it is still balanced. An unbalanced page or screen creates a feeling of tension, as if the page or screen might tip, or things might slide off the side, just as the unbalanced balance beam would tip to one side

o By color: Our eyes are drawn by color. Small areas of vibrant color can be used to balance larger areas of more neutral colors. Color is one of the most effective devices available for drawing attention to those page elements you most want noticed. For this device to be effective, your colors must be used sparingly.
o By value: Value refers to the darkness or lightness of objects. Black against white has a much stronger contrast than gray against white. To balance these two colors, you would need a larger area of gray to balance the stronger value of black.
o By shape: Large flat areas without much detail can be balanced by smaller irregularly shaped objects since the eye is led towards the more intricate shape
o By position:
o By texture: Smaller areas with interesting textures (variegated light and dark, or random fluctuations) can balance larger areas with smoother, un-textured looks
o By eye direction: Your eye can be led to a certain point in a picture depending on how the elements are arranged. If the people in a picture are looking in a certain direction, your eye will be led there as well. Elements in a picture, such as triangles or arrows, will also lead your eye to look to a certain point and maintain the balance of a picture.
- Radial Balance: The third type of balance is radial balance, where all elements radiate out from a center point in a circular fashion. It is very easy to maintain a focal point in radial balance, since all the elements lead your eye toward the center
- Crystallographic balance: This kind of balance is also known as "all over" balance. Within a grid-like composition, certain variation is introduced to direct the eye throughout the design, with many focal points. Some familiar examples would be quilt design or a game of checkers in the middle of the game.
However, imbalance can be used to create a mood or tension in your layouts.

Whoever has the most balanced layout will win this prize:http://www.mayaroad.com/new/product_info.php?cPath=1028&selected_box=configuration&products_id=680&PHPSESSIONID=87bf5b301214c22fa2fd09fbe699093b

Weekly Challenge #28: Object of My Affection

Let's have some applause for everyone who completed the Stashoffont challenge (another great one--I hope I can continue the trend!):

Nitza
Spider Boy

~Alma Scrapera~
I Want Smores!

K
Miss You

Moi
Hi Kate

Whenscraphappens
The First Man

Blushpea
Johnson Space Center (left side)
Johnson Space Center (right side)

x3JessicaLouise
Good Ol' Times

Sosumi_san
Garden

If I missed anybody, please PM me (Sosumi_san) so I can add you in!

With that out of the way, let me now welcome everybody to the Object of My Affection challenge. Ooh ahh, what could it be? Well, pull out your pens and pull up your bootstraps because it's a journaling challenge, which I thought would be a switch from design. It doesn't matter whether your journaling is hidden or visible, how long it is or how detailed but it must be about an object related to a loved one (it can be something related to you, "co-owned"), any everyday object of that person's, and it must say why that object means what it does to you. For example: "This antique coffee grinder will always remind me of my parents. It hasn't been oiled since I was a child so every morning the creaks of it grinding followed by the aroma of their fresh-brewed coffee were what I woke up to. Seeing it, but especially hearing it, immediately brings that memory back." The photo(s) may or may not include that object, up to you.

Design Tutorial: Flow

For our second tutorial, we’re going to discuss visual flow in our scrapbook layouts. The elements on your layout should help guide the reader’s eye across the page and to the focal point {usually a photo, if making a multi-photo layout either the group of photos or the best photo of the bunch.} Thus, a layout that has movement is employing good flow techniques.

To establish whether you have visual flow, review one of your layouts and ask yourself the following:
- Does the visual flow work with gravity? Or against it?
- Does the eye flow from one element to the next the way you want it to?
- Count the steps it takes to get to the focal point. Are there more than two?
- In "flash-card" fashion, show the layout (quickly) to an unsuspecting viewer... what's the first thing they saw. Next? Next? Is that what you intended?

There are a few ways to introduce flow to a scrapbook page.
- Employ a sequence of events photographs for multi-photo layouts. If there isn’t a prominent sequence, employ numbers on each photograph to direct the reader’s eye to each photo and end on the focal photo. Make your focal photo larger!
- Use repetition. Too much repetition creates monotony but when used effectively can lead to rhythm, and focalization. Repetition can be achieved with colors, or embellishments. When using embellishments, use an odd number rather than an even number, as it is often more eye pleasing.
- Create a line going across the page. Straight lines tend to be forceful, structural and stable and direct the observer's eye to a point faster than curved lines. Curved or free-flowing lines are sometimes described as smooth, graceful or gentle and create a relaxing, progressive, moving and natural feeling. Create the line with photos or embellishments.

So this week, when you're doing your "stashofont" layouts, make sure your page flows well. I feel inspired today {mostly by Sharon's great challenge} and so the page with the most flow will receive this: http://www.magisticalmemories.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TRAMB

Weekly Challenge #27 - Stashoffont

Hi everyone! Time for Weekly Challenge #27.

First, let's recognize everyone who responded to Weekly Challenge #26 Beatlemania -

Denitza (Nitza) - Tell Me What You See
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/114723/view/902815/-1/0/1.html

Jen (jenfitz) - Close Your Eyes (also a Rule of Thirds response!)
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/132565/view/903367/-1/0/1.html

Tiffany (whenscraphappens) - This Boy
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/147509/view/905111/-1/0/1.html

Missy (806melissa) - Do You Want To Know A Secret
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=91650&m=view&id=908545&page=1

Also, check these out:

Nitza (~AlmaScrapera~) Rule of Thirds response - Surfing Santa Cruz
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/93112/view/907087/-1/0/1.html

Brenda (twinscrapbee) response to the Funny & Clean & Simple Challenges - Sleepy Powers
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=110237&m=view&id=910201

Sharon (blushpea) response to the Innovative/Storytelling Challenges - Toe-Side Triumph
http://scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=41507&m=view&id=908855

Edited to add a few late challenges responses:

Melissa (Fiery Redhead) response to the Beatlemania Challenge - Good Day Sunshine
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/138349/view/914169/-1/0/1.html

K (Kaleidascope) response to the Beatlemania Challenge - Across the Universe
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=111869&m=view&id=914907&page=1

K response to the Use of Color Challenge - Soak Up The Sun
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/111869/view/914909/-1/0/1.html

K response to the Funny Challenge - Spin
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=111869&m=view&id=914911&page=1

Jess (X3Jessicalouise) response to the Beatlemania Challenge - Oh Yesterday came suddenly
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/131197/view/918043/-1/0/1.html
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=131197&m=view&id=918037&page=1
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=131197&m=view&id=918035&page=1

K (Kaleidascope) response to the Multi-Photo Challenge & also applies to Beatlemania - A Day In The Life
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=111869&m=view&id=918741&page=1

K response to the Innovative Challenge - Anthem of a 17 year old girl
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/111869/view/918743/-1/0/1.html

Sharon (blushpea) response to the Beatlemania Challenge - In My Life
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=41507&m=view&id=919119&page=1
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=41507&m=view&id=919101&page=1
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=41507&m=view&id=919039&page=1

Brenda (twinscrapbee) response to the Innovative Challenge - Lucky in Love
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=110237&m=view&id=920785

Brenda response to the Use of Color Challenge - Color Me Happy
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/110237/view/921811/-1/0/1.html

Angela (Sosumi_san) response to the Beatlemania Challenge - From Me To You
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/143085/view/925403/-1/0/1.html

Great work, ladiezz! If I left someone off, please PM me and I'll add you.

OK, now for this week. This week I challenge you to create a Stashoffont LO. What is that you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked...

I've always loved reading about those multi-layered challenges, they always seem like mini scrappy scavenger hunts, but I've never tackled one. Well, now I'm getting all of YOU to do so. Don't worry, I'm along for the ride as well so we're in this together...

For this week's challenge, your LO must include each of the following -

- OLD STASH paper(s) & at least one OLD stash stamp and/or embellishment. Visualize the oldest paper in your stash, as well as your oldest stamp and/or embellishment(s). And I'll give you some leeway, it can be "among the oldest stuff" that you own. Just something that definitely fits in the "Wow I still have that?"/"Gee this has been here since the dawn of my scrapping..." category. You can use sheet s from your oldest paper pack/stack/whatever OR scrap s that you KNOW are from your oldest stuff , anything goes.

- Something you'd find in an OFFICE. Anything - supplies or the resulting products of office supplies.

and last but not least

- At least one word in TWO different FONTS. Can be the title, a word in the journaling , etc. One or both fonts can be handwritten (so long as they're distinctly different) - WHATEVER!

So to recap, STASH items, an OFFice item and a word in two different FONTs. Stashoffont!

Edited to add - Since this is being posted midweek (several days earlier than I thought I would be posting), your deadline for this challenge is Sunday June 15th, giving you at least a full week to work.

Look forward to seeing what we can all come up with. Have fun!

Design Tutorial: "Rule of Thirds"

The "rule of thirds" is a compostional rule in photgraphy. A photograph or layout can be divided into nine equal parts using two horizontal and vertical lines. These lines intersect at 4 points and placing the photograph or layout's focal point at these intersections creates drama, tension, energy, and interest.

Here are some examples because I can't post photos right now:

http://photospot2004.blogspot.com/2004/07/rule-of-thirds.html

http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/digital-photography-tutor-thirds.html

So this week, I challenge you to try the rule of thirds yourself. Take a photo both using and not usign the rule and compare them. If you create a layout for Tiff's Beatlemania challenge, place your focal point at the interstion points!

Here are some ideas to incorporate the rule of thirds in your photography:

- line up subjects with the guiding lines {don't center subject}

- if you center a person, line up their eyes with the top horizontal third line

- place the horizon on the top or bottom line instead of the center

- allow linear features in the photograph to flow from section to section

Please remember that these rules are merely guidelines because it is possible to have both stunning layouts and photographs by not following these rules.

Week #26 Beatlemania

Hey, everyone! I am not sure if I am off on week numbers. I could have sworn this was 26. I may have to edit that later.

I have been anxiously anticipating posting this challenge as a weekly challenge and I am soooo happy that the time is here!

However, first I need to recognize the completed Week #25 Innovative Challenge layouts. Be sure to check them out if you haven't already.

Melissa's (Fiery Redhead) Swing Batter Batter! http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/138349/view/897331/-1/0/1.html

and

Tiffany's (whenscraphappens) 100% Unique for Jake www.scrapbook.com/galleries/147509/view/891153/-1/0/1.html

If I missed anyone, please pm me and I will make the necessary changes!

Okie dokie, artichokie. I challenge you to complete a layout of any subject you choose, any number of photos you choose, any size you wish, it can even be digital, if you like. However, there is a catch. The title of your layout must use a Beatles song title or Beatles song lyric. To make things a little easier for you, I found a list of song titles for you to peruse and trust me there are some goodies in there. Check them out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Beatles_songs_by_singer

Please have fun with this and I hope there is something for everyone! Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Weekly Challenge #23

Hi ladies.

Last week we did funny layouts. Please check out Tiff and Jess'. Also, please check out Sharon's multi-photo layout.

This week we're doing the last of the set from Lucky 7. INNOVATIVE LAYOUT. So put on your thinking cap and show me how it is done.

Look out for tons of layouts from me, the gallery is constantly down at night.

Also, thanks to Melissa for cleaning up the blog tags!