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org
Compose your
Elements!
When planning an illustration you‘ll have certain
elements you‘ll want to arrange, in this case with the
horizon at eyelevel.
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• Step 1: Choose a format • Step 2: Here a portrait Step 3: Rule of Thirds
Start by choosing the format you I decide to go with a portrait. This I like to use the “rule of thirds” and
want to work in, since we‘ll be depends on what your illustration is arrange most important elements at
arranging all our elements in for or simply your preference. intersections and along lines.
comparison to the frame.
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Step 4: Consider eye movement • Step 5: Consider spacing Step 6: Better spacing
The eye follows the direction the When adding interest you need to This is better but all the apples are
person is looking at. Here the will consider the spacing of the elements. the same and facing in the same
follow from the character to the Even spacing tends to be on the sizes and facing in the same
apple in the tree and then go down boring side. direction.
to the already collected apples.
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Step 7: Variation • Step 8: Create new shapes Step 9: More depth
This feels more natural. When you add a new element that By adding more trees to the back we
gets overlapped. You automatically create more overlap and depth and
create a new shape and a sense of thus add interest.
depth.
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Step 10: Negative space • Step 11: Planes Step 12: Avoid Tangents
Another thing you can do is invert Think in planes. When arranging your elements avoid
your shapes and use the negative Ask yourself: Can I create a fore-, tangents. These get created by
space to create new shapes for you. middle- and background? objects barely touching each other.
A foreground can have a nice framing They add confusion and aren’t pretty.
effect and again add depth to your
Try to make it obvious which element
scene.
is in front of which.
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Step 13: Add story • Step 14: Adjust Values Step 12: Experiment
Better! Tangents removed. To frame the character better, I When working digitally it’s great that
adjust the values and darken the you can explore all the options and in
Add small story details. E.g. make
scenery behind the character the end you do what feels best for
the apples lying around, flawed and
bruised, all but the last one on the the scene.
tree.
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The Last
Pssst! Don’t forget to replace this picture ↑
Perfect Apple
Done! A different crop is what I settle on. Maybe not as
nicely planned if considering the rule of thirsts but to me
preferable. In the end it’s always your taste not the rules
that should decide the image.
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Pssst! Don’t forget to replace this picture ↑ Pssst! Don’t forget to replace this picture ↑
• This overview has only a few • Think about you value distribution! Try having one
examples to show off how you can main value, a secondary one and one for that you
create tension. use sparingly
