Some Thoughts on Line

• Lines:
  Lines are the spaceless figures between points, hacing direction, length and angle.Lines help building forms, shapes and figures to represent an idea or matter. For illustration purposes; lines are also used for imitating perspective, dominance and continuity:
  
  

  What is a Line?

  A line connects two points. Lines come in every shape and size. They are one way to define space and shape, and they can give the illusion of dimension.
  

  How You Can Use Line to Enhance Your Designs

  The element of line can be used:
  1. as a texture
  2. to define a space
  3. to emphasize
  4. to set a mood
  5. to create motion or movement
  6. as an illusion of perspective
  

  Lines as Texture

  
  The perfect example of lines as texture is US dollar bills. The images are all made up of intricate little lines that create a texture. The type of texture used in the US dollar bills is called contour lines. They define the image as well as add texture to it. Crosshatching is another artistic technique that uses lines to create texture. Depending on the thickness and density of the lines, crosshatching also creates value, which we will discuss in a future post.
  

  Defining Lines

  Space can be defined by drawing a line. Generally these create outlines of shapes and are the beginnings of defining an object’s form.
  

  Set Apart

  Lines are effectively used to separate a piece of important information from the rest of a layout. They can emphasize information, as an underline does, or they can completely cut off an element from the whole piece, as seen in many pull quotes in books or magazines.
  

  Can Lines Really Set a Mood?

  Lines can create a feeling just as easily as any other element. If straight, mono-weight lines are evenly space, it feels orderly and proper. If straight lines are crisscrossing each other at all odd angles that feels tense and out of control. If curved, squiggly lines of varying weight are intersecting each other all over the canvas, this lends to a mood of chaos and confusion.
  

  Lines to Move an Object

  Lines are often an easy way to denote motion. When they are at a slant, this can show that an object is moving with great speed. If they curve slightly, the shape can appear to be bouncing or quivering.
  

  Don’t Trust Your Eyes

  Line weight and angle are what will make your mind think you are looking at something in three dimensions. Thinner weights make a line look like it’s farther away. Lines that are close together appear to be farther away as well, while more spaced out lines look like they are closer to you. Imagine telephone or power poles on a long highway. Another way to use line to define dimension is vary it with thick and thin weights, so that it appears to turn in space, like a ribbon. Lines, just like any other element, can also be blurred or crisp, which is a way to define the object’s distance from the viewer. Blurry lines are generally very far away or extremely close up, while crisp lines are in focus.
  

  Action Steps

  Make it a point next time you design to use the element of line to create your desired effect, whether it be a texture, space, emphasis, mood, movement or perspective.

• How to use lines in your designs:

• create texture
• define space
• emphasize
• produce a mood
• indicate motion
• show perspective

Kenstar Air Coolers: Hammock

This Kenstar ad is using lines to create a mood. There is a breezy line quality, achieved by thin, wispy lines, that sometimes curl to add to the light (less serious) mood of the piece. The lines are soft; there are no angles to them, although they do get a little chaotic at the second hammock anchor.

And notice how the lines don’t have to be straight! This is an all-to-common misconception about line. Think of a skyline, not straight and much more visually interesting than using a straight horizon.

Line also defines the shape of the hammock; there is no solid area of color that holds this function like you might usually see. These thin, curving, soft lines are also relatively feminine, and along with the font used in the tagline (“Breeze that pampers”), and even the word pamper (usually what women go to the spa for), it is a very feminine ad.

Similar to the lines in this composition creating the shape, they also serve as a texture. The arrowheads to show the direction of these little air currents also provide some visual texture.

Skoda: Daddy

This Skoda ad’s hand drawn look says many things about the mood they are trying to create. This note is from one little kid to another, and it talks about how his dad is careful when he drives and that friends (other kids) should be just as careful while riding their bikes. Even though it sounds like it’s one child to another, it is directed at parents who are concerned for the safety of their children. Because Skoda (the car company) is promoting bicycle safety, their cars must be safe, too, right?

The use of organic lines is a good example of how to use lines to create a mood that is lighthearted and juvenile. The graph paper behind it though, suggests structure and order. I’m not sure if that is a cultural reference (do children typically draw on graph paper in Italy?), but it creates an interesting juxtaposition of lines—childish and mature, playful and ordered.

Texture is another attribute that can be produced using lines, as here with the graph paper.