CEED cheat sheet

Elements of design: line, shape, form, space, texture, color, value - each has expressive and functional roles.

Color theory: primary (red, blue, yellow), secondary (green, orange, purple), tertiary mixes; complementary pairs lie opposite on the color wheel.

Gestalt principles: proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, figure-ground, common fate - describe how humans group visual elements.

Golden ratio ≈ 1.618; used in proportion systems; also Fibonacci sequence 0,1,1,2,3,5,8… approximates it.

Perspective: one-point (vanishing point), two-point (two VPs), three-point (adds vertical VP); horizon line equals eye level.

Standard paper sizes: A0 = 1 m², each subsequent size halves the area (A1 = 0.5 m², A2 = 0.25 m², etc.).

Color models: RGB additive (screens), CMYK subtractive (print), Pantone spot colors; hue, saturation, value (HSV) describe color.

Typography terms: kerning (pair spacing), tracking (overall letter spacing), leading (line spacing), x-height, ascender, descender.

Design process: empathize → define → ideate → prototype → test (Stanford d.school model); iterative, not linear.

Composition rules: rule of thirds (divide frame into 3×3 grid, place key elements on intersections), golden triangle, and leading lines.

Figure drawing proportions: average adult is ~7.5 heads tall; head is ~1/8 of total height; eye level at mid-height.

Perspective drawing: vanishing points lie on the horizon line; parallel lines converge to the same VP; verticals remain vertical in 1- and 2-point.

Shading techniques: hatching (parallel lines), cross-hatching (intersecting), stippling (dots), blending; value scale from 0 (black) to 10 (white).

Color mixing: tint = add white; shade = add black; tone = add gray; complementary colors neutralize each other.

Storyboard/sequence: use consistent character placement, clear silhouettes, and arrows to show motion or camera moves.

Isometric drawing: three axes at 120°; all lines parallel to axes; no vanishing points; used for technical illustration.

Negative space drawing: focus on shapes around the subject to improve accuracy; check proportions by comparing negative areas.