Text is available in different sources, which may be categorized into two:

1. Formal Example of these are news articles, published books, newspapers, magazines, advertisements,
research works, etc. Formal text- based materials are created and distributed by established institutions
(such as publishing companies, news agencies, etc.) and go through a rigorous process of editing or
evaluation and are usually governed by censorship of the state.

2. Informal Examples of these are blogs, personal e-mails, SMS or text messages, online messengers,
social media platforms, etc. They come from personal opinions or views on different issues, processes,
etc.

Text can be as short such as a single sentence or phrase, or they can be as lengthy as news articles or
investigative reporting. No matter how brief or lengthy, however, a text is always carefully written with
the intent of sending a very specific message to the target audience.

Text as Visual

Typeface font, font type, or type) is the representation or style of a text. A typeface is usually composed
of alphabets, numbers, punctuation marks, symbols and other special characters. Fonts in digital format
are installed in forms such as True Type Font (.ttf), Open Type Font (.otf), etc. Fonts convey different
emotions and meaning, and you must be very careful in choosing the right font for your content. The
table below presents the different types of fonts, their implications, uses, and examples.

Types Implications Uses Examples

Serif connotes formality and for the body text of Times New Roman
readability in large books, newspapers, Garamond
amount of texts gives a magazines and Baskerville
classic or elegant look research publication Bookman Antiqua
when used for title or
heading.
Sans serif brings a clean or for clear and direct Arial Century Gothic
minimalist look to the meaning of text such as Tahoma
text gives a modern road signage, building Verdana
look and is used directory or nutrition Calibri
primarily in webpage facts in food packages.
design
Slab serif carries a solid or heavy for large advertising Rockwell
look to text sign on billboards Playbill
Black Oak
Script draws much attention must be used sparingly Edwardian
to itself because of its and not to be used in Vladimir
brush-like strokes large body text. usually Brush Script
for wedding invitation French Script
cards or other formal Freestyle
events
 Display/ Decorative caters to a wide variety must be used sparingly Curlz
of emotions (such as and not to be used in Chiller
celebration, fear, large body text. Jokerman
horror, etc.) or themes AR Carter
(such as cowboys, Bauhaus 93
circus, holidays,
summer, kiddie, etc.)

Design Principles and Elements

The principles in designing text elements are emphasis, appropriateness, proximity, alignment,
organization, repetition and contrast. Observe how these elements are presented in each text frame.

Emphasis - This refers to the importance or value given to a part of the text-based content. When trying
to make a point or highlighting a message, you can make the text bold, italicized, have a heavier weight,
darkened or lightened (depending on your background color) or enlarged.

Proximity - This refers to how near or how far are the text elements from each other. When two things
are closely related, we bring them close together. Otherwise, we put text elements far from each other.
For example, the main title and subtitle are usually placed close to each other.

Alignment - refers to how the text is positioned in the page. This can be left, right, center or justified

Organization - This refers to a conscious effort to organize the different text elements in a page.
Organization ensures that while some text elements are separated from each other (based on the
principle of proximity), they are still somehow connected with the rest of the elements in the page.

Repetition - concerns consistency of elements and the unity of the entire design.

Repetition encourages the use of repeating some typefaces within the page. When several typefaces are
used on a page, it might distract the audience and fail to communicate what you want them to get from
the content. To strike a balance, do not also use just a single typeface for a visual design product.

Contrast - is achieved when two elements are different from each other. When you place a white text on
a very light background, contrast is not achieved and the text will be difficult to read, with the right mix
of light and darkness. Try using large font with small font, serif with sans serif, thick lines with thin, and
cool color with warm color.

Visual information and media are materials, programs, applications and the like that teachers and
students use to formulate new information to aid learning through the use, analysis, evaluation and
production of visual images. The following are types of visual media:

Photography
Video
Screenshot
Infographic
comic strips/ cartoons
Meme
Graphs / Charts
Visual note taking

The primary purpose of visual information is to gain attention, create meaning, and facilitate retention,
but how can you create a striking visual? First, you must consider the visual elements, or the basic units
in the construction of a visual image. The Design Elements are:
1. Line - This describes a shape or outline. It can create texture and can be thick or thin. Lines may be
actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or contour.
2. Shape - A geometric area that stands out from the space next to or around it, or because of
differences in value, color, or texture. Shape may also be organic.
3. Value - The degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the
tones in between. Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme
changes between values
4. Texture - The way a surface feels or is perceived to feel. Texture can be added to attract or repel
interest to a visual element. Two contrasting visual textures are presented in this picture taken in
Bolinao, Pangasinan: the smoothness of the sea and the roughness of the contorted branches.
5. Color - Determined by its hue (name of color), intensity (purity of the hue), and value (lightness or
darkness of hue). Color and color combination can play a large role in the design. Color may be used for
emphasis, or may elicit emotions from viewers. Color may be warm, cool, or neutral. It plays a major role
in our visual perception, as it influences our reactions about the world around us. It is therefore
important to create color palettes that evoke the appropriate audience reactions.
6. Form - A figure having volume and thickness. An illusion of a 3-dimensional object can be implied with
the use of light and shading.

Principles in Visual Design

The visual appeal of artworks depends on its adherence to principles of design. However, there is no
strict commandment in designing. The personal preferences of the artist remain a prime contributing
factor in designing visuals. Let me share with you some of my work as we discuss the designing
principles. Like what I have previously said, these are my personal take on designing. There are many
other styles that can also influence you in your works.

1. Consistency of margins, typeface, typestyle, and colors is necessary, especially in slide

presentations or documents that are more than one page.
2. Center of interest an area that first attracts attention in a composition. This area is more
important when compared to the other objects or elements in a composition. This can be by
contrast of values, more colors, and placement in the format.
3. Balance a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc. Balance can be symmetrical
and evenly balanced, or asymmetrical and unevenly balanced. Objects, values, colors, textures,
shapes, forms, etc. can be used in creating balance in a composition.
 4. Harmony brings together a composition with similar units. If for example your composition was
using wavy lines and organic shapes, you would stay with those types of lines and not put in just
one geometric shape. (Notice how similar Harmony is to Unity some sources list both terms).
5. Contrast offers some change in value creating a visual discord in a composition. Contrast shows
the difference between shapes and can be used as a background to bring objects out and
forward in a design. It can also be used to create an area of emphasis.
6. Directional Movement a visual flow through the composition. It can be the suggestion of motion
in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position. Directional
movement can be created with a value pattern.
7. Rhythm a movement in which some elements recur regularly. Like a dance, it will have a flow of
objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.
8. Perspective created through the arrangement of objects in two-dimensional space to look like
they appear in real life. Perspective is a learned meaning of the relationship between different
objects seen in space.

Types of shots
Extreme Wide Shot / Extreme Long Shot
This reveals to the viewer the world where the story takes place. Through this shot, the audience must
have a feel of the time and place of the story whether it is morning or evening, hot or cold, wet or dry,
and so on.
Wide Shot / Long Shot
This shot establishes the character and how he/she is related to the scene. The characters can be seen
from head to toe. Because of its wide coverage, the wide shot can also be used as an establishing shot.
This can also be used as a master shot, which introduces a new location or scene.
Full Shot
Like the wide shot, the full shot also shows the character from head to toe, but this time around, the
character is already the focus. Through this, you can clearly see what the character looks like as a whole
or what he/she is doing.
Medium Shot
The character is seen waste up. This is often used in dialogue scenes, because it is wide enough to show
two or more characters but close enough to show details.
Medium Close-up
This shot rests between the medium shot and the close-up, with the subject framed from shoulders up.
Through this shot, more body language can complement the facial expressions to show emotions
Close-up
This frames the character's face and provides emotional clues that cannot be effectively shown with the
medium shot. Other things may be shown up close - shaking hands, tapping feet, etc,
Extreme Close-up
This is a tighter frame that highlights the facial features or any subject more. It can be highly detailed,
much more intimate, emotionally heightened, and uncomfortable to view.

Camera Angles and Points of View

Bird's-eye view
Bird's-eye view is the name given to the type of shot taken from an elevated point. As its own name
indicates, it offers a perspective similar to that which birds see while flying.
High angle
A high angle shot is taken pointing the camera down on the subject. As a result, the subject is seen as
vulnerable and powerless.
Eye level
The eye level shot is considered the most natural camera angle. Capturing the shot at eye-level offers a
neutral perception of the subject. Because it is the way in which we usually see people, this camera
angle can help the audience connect with the subject.
Low angle
A low angle shot is taken from below the subject's eye line, pointing upwards. This camera angle makes a
subject look powerful and imposing.
Worm's-eye view
The worm's-eye view camera angle looks at an object or subject from below. It is commonly used to
capture tall elements in the scene, such as trees or skyscrapers, and put them in perspective. This type of
camera shot is mostly taken from a subject's point of view.
Over the Shoulder Shot
Also called OTS or third person shot, this is created by placing the camera at the back of one character
while facing the other character. This is used to highlight the relationship of characters in a dialogue.
Dutch Angle
Also called Dutch tilt, canted angle, or oblique angle, this shot is noticeably tilted оr tipped. This is used
to signal to the viewer that something is wrong, disorienting, or unsettling (Lannom, 2020)