VISUAL MESSAGES

DIGITAL ARTS

AL LARSEN

VISUAL MESSAGES

We express and receive visual messages on three levels:

Abstractly Representationally Symbolically

ABSTRACTIONAbstract art is generally understood to mean art that does not depict objects in the natural world, but instead uses shapes and colours in a non-representational or subjective way.2

ABSTRACTIONIn its wider definition the term describes art that depicts real forms in a simplified or rather reduced way - keeping only an allusion of the original natural subject.2

ABSTRACTION

QuickTimeª and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

REPRESENTATION

Representation: what we see and recognize from environment and experience1

REPRESENTATION

Steven Nereo photo

REPRESENTATION

Steven Nereo photo

SYMBOL

A symbol is an arbitrary sign that has acquired a conventional significance3

SYMBOL (1)

SYMBOL (2)

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWINGIMAGES IN TERMS OF… ABSTRACTIONREPRESENTATIONSYMBOL

In-Class Lab 1

Use Photoshop Divide an image into even strips Horizontal or vertical Rearrange the order example: 1 -> 7; 2 -> 6; 3 -> 5; 4 -> 4; 5 -> 3 etc.

In-Class Lab 1

In-Class Lab 1

Find a representational photo on the web

Should be at least 500 x 500 pixels

Save Image to Desktop (ctrl-click for menu for users with single-button mouse)

Open Photoshop File->Open then choose image

from desktop Make sure Layers window is

visible

Make 7 new layers (Layer-> New) Highlight Background layer Choose Rectangular Marquee

Tool from toolbar Select slice of background image

and cut (Edit->Cut or apple-X) Highlight first layer in Layers

window. Paste into layer (Edit->paste or

apple-V) (Repeat x 6)

In-Class Lab 2

In -Class Lab 2

•Find a representational photo on the web

•Choose a photo which you feel exhibits good composition

•Should be at least 400 x 400 pixels

•Open in Photoshop, scale it down so that the largest side is 400 pixels (Image -> Image Size)

In -Class Lab 2

•Make a new Photoshop document which is as tall as your image and twice as wide

•Paste image in and locate it on the right half of the canvas

•Create a new layer and paste same image in the left half

•Use adjustment layers and filters only to create an abstract composition in the left half.

VISUAL MESSAGES

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