The Basic Elements

This magazine cover uses the basic element of tone.  The intensity of darkness and lightness on Kobe Bryant’s face adds to the dimension to the photograph.  Although the photograph is monochromatic sense there are a lot of variations of tone, we are able to clearly make out the photograph.  The black and white photograph adds an aspect of simplicity to the magazine cover, which can be very cluttered and distracting.  The magazine cover also uses color.  The color used for “Vogue” and for “Kobe Bryant” make them pop out.  They pop out because of the high contrast with the photograph and the rest of the text.

This magazine layout uses the basic element of scale.  The “M” drop cap gives scale to the rest of the text.  The reader is able to compare the rest of text to the “M” and realize the size difference.  The drop cap adds dimension to the page rather than having all the text be the same size.  It draws in the reader and encourages them to read it.  I think this layout works well with the use of scale.

 In this magazine layout the basic element used is shape.   The layout of this magazine is divided up into basic shapes of squares and rectangles.  The pictures and text fit into shapes of squares and rectangles.  The layout seems to use a grid which I think works really well.  The layout looks simple and clean and is nice to look at.  I like how the text on the left side makes their own rectangles by how the text is set.  It further gives the prominence of the use of shape.