Odisha CHSE +2 Vocational Graphic Art key terms

The basic visual components used to build any artwork: line, shape, form, colour, value, texture and space. Artists combine them deliberately to create meaning and visual interest.

Guidelines describing how elements of art are arranged: balance, contrast, emphasis, rhythm, proportion, unity and movement. They explain why a composition feels stable, dynamic or harmonious.

The deliberate arrangement of visual elements within a frame or page. Good composition guides the viewer's eye, creates focal points and balances positive and negative areas.

A composition guideline dividing the frame into a three-by-three grid so key subjects sit near the intersection lines rather than dead centre, producing a more dynamic image.

The area of an image that first attracts the viewer's attention, created through contrast, isolation, size or placement. Every design usually needs one clear focal point.

The empty or unoccupied area surrounding and between subjects in a composition. Used skilfully, it defines shapes, improves legibility and gives a design breathing room.

The relative lightness or darkness of a colour or tone, independent of hue. Value creates the illusion of form, depth and lighting in drawing and design.

A technique using strong contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional form and dramatic atmosphere. It is central to tonal drawing and Renaissance painting.

A quick, loose sketch capturing the movement, pose and energy of a subject rather than fine detail. Used as warm-up and to understand action in figure drawing.

A drawing that traces the outline and edges of a form, often slowly and without lifting the pencil. It trains observation of shape boundaries and surface changes.

A system for representing three-dimensional objects on a flat surface so that parallel lines converge at vanishing points, creating believable depth and space.

The point on the horizon line where receding parallel lines appear to meet in perspective drawing. One-point and two-point perspective each use different numbers of these points.

The horizontal line in a perspective drawing marking the viewer's eye level. Its height determines whether objects are seen from above, below or straight on.

The relationship in size between parts of a figure or composition and the whole. Correct proportion makes drawings believable; deliberate distortion can create expression.

An approximate ratio of 1:1.618 believed to produce pleasing proportions. Designers apply it to page formats, logo grids and image cropping for visual harmony.

A network of intersecting guidelines that organises text and images into consistent columns and margins. It speeds layout work and keeps multi-page publications visually coherent.

The arrangement of text, images and white space on a page or screen. Effective layout establishes hierarchy, guides reading order and balances visual weight.

The order in which a viewer notices design elements, controlled through size, colour, contrast and position. It ensures the most important message is seen first.

A design principle that makes one element stand out so the viewer's attention is directed there first. Achieved through contrast, isolation, scale or colour.

The difference between adjacent elements in tone, colour, size or shape. Strong contrast improves readability, creates interest and separates foreground from background.

Intentional empty areas in a design, also called negative space. It separates elements, improves readability and prevents a layout from feeling cluttered.

The distribution of visual weight in a composition. Symmetrical balance feels formal and stable; asymmetrical balance uses unequal elements to achieve dynamic equilibrium.

The repetition of visual elements such as shapes, colours or lines at intervals, creating a sense of movement or pattern across a design.

A repeated decorative motif or arrangement of shapes and colours. Patterns can be geometric or organic and are used to add texture and unity to a surface.

The surface quality of an object as perceived by touch or sight. In design, simulated texture adds richness; actual texture depends on the material used.

The process of building up shading, highlights and surface detail to make a drawing look three-dimensional and realistic. It relies on consistent light direction and value control.

A tint is a colour lightened by adding white; a shade is darkened by adding black. Both alter value while keeping the original hue recognisable.

A circular chart arranging hues to show relationships: primary, secondary and tertiary colours, plus complementary and analogous pairs. It guides colour selection in design.

Two hues opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as red and green. Placed together they create maximum contrast and vibrancy; mixed they neutralise each other.

The cyan, magenta, yellow and key-black ink model used in four-colour offset and digital printing. Artwork for print must be converted from RGB to CMYK before output.

The red, green and blue additive colour model used by screens. It produces a wider gamut than CMYK, so colours may shift when RGB artwork is printed.

The amount of detail an image or output device can reproduce, measured in dots or pixels per inch. Print work typically needs 300 ppi at final size.

An image built from mathematical paths and anchor points rather than pixels. Vectors scale to any size without losing sharpness, making them ideal for logos and type.

An image made of a grid of pixels, such as a photograph or scanned artwork. Enlarging a raster image beyond its native resolution reveals visible pixelation.

Extra artwork extending beyond the trimmed edge of a printed page, usually 3 mm. It prevents white slivers appearing if cutting drifts slightly off the trim line.

The final dimensions of a printed page after it has been cut down. Designers set the document to trim size and add bleed and crop marks around it.

The precise alignment of separate printing plates or colour layers so they print exactly on top of each other. Misregistration causes blurred edges and colour fringing.

A stencil printing process in which ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the substrate. It suits bold flat colour, textiles and short-run poster work.

A relief printmaking method where the artist carves into a linoleum block, inks the raised surface and presses it onto paper. Carved-away areas stay white.

A one-off print made by drawing or painting on a plate and transferring the image to paper. Each pull is unique, unlike editioned prints.

The total number of prints pulled from a single plate or block in one run, each numbered and signed. Limited editions increase the value of prints.

The art of selecting, arranging and setting type so text is readable and expressive. It covers typeface choice, size, spacing, alignment and hierarchy.

A family of characters sharing a consistent design, such as serif, sans serif or script. A font is a specific size and weight of a typeface.

Adjusting the space between individual pairs of letters to make words look evenly spaced. Poor kerning leaves awkward gaps or collisions in display type.

The vertical distance between successive lines of type, historically set with strips of lead. Too little leading crowds text; too much breaks the reading flow.

Uniform adjustment of spacing across a whole range of characters, unlike kerning which affects single pairs. Designers use it to tighten or loosen a block of text.

A graphic mark or symbol identifying a brand, designed to be simple, memorable and reproducible at any size. It may combine a symbol, wordmark and colour system.

The complete set of visual elements that represent an organisation: logo, colours, typefaces, imagery and layout rules. Consistency builds recognition across all media.

A document specifying how a brand's visual elements must be used, including colours, type, spacing and logo clear space. It keeps output consistent across designers and vendors.

Writing persuasive text for advertisements, headlines and campaigns. Good copy pairs a clear message with the visual concept and calls the reader to act.

A short, memorable phrase that sums up a brand's promise and accompanies its logo or advertising. It should be distinctive, brief and easy to recall.

A collection of images, colours, type samples and textures assembled to define the visual direction of a project before design begins. It aligns client and designer expectations.

A small, rapid rough drawing exploring layout options and composition ideas. Several thumbnails are produced before committing to a final design direction.

A trial print or digital preview produced to check colour, layout and text before final production. Client sign-off on a proof authorises the full print run.

The thickness of a drawn or printed line. Varying line weight adds depth, separates objects and directs attention in illustration and technical drawing.