Elements of Design - Lines

From Jacci Howard Bear,
Your Guide to Desktop Publishing.

Lines can be long or short, straight or curved. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. They create patterns. Lines in graphic design can be solid, dashed, thick, thin, or of variable width.

Sometimes a designer uses a line alone to divide or unite elements on a page. Lines can denote direction of movement (as in diagonal lines and arrows) or provide an anchor to hold elements on a page (such as lines at the top, bottom, or sides of a page).

You can use lines in conjunction with other elements of your design. One well-known example, the AT&T logo, is a pattern of thick and thin lines arranged in a circular shape.

A line is a mark connecting two points. How we get from point A to point B gives the line its distinctive character and appearance. Lines can be long or short, straight or curved. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Lines can be solid, dashed, thick, thin, or of variable width. The endings of lines can be ragged, blunt, or curved.



Lines are often found in pairs or groups. Lines of the same general appearance or lines that are quite different can form a variety of patterns that create textures, suggest movement, or lead the eye - the same as single lines.

If you aren't creating original illustrations or doing logo design, your main concern with this part of the study of lines is being able to recognize these patterns in the illustrations you may select for your work and understand how these patterns may or may not project the image you want for your project. These bits of line patterns illustrate static, dynamic, and random use of lines.



Upper Left: Uniform vertical black and white lines alternate at even intervals. Static. Orderly. Conservative.

Upper Right: Uniform horizontal black lines are widely, but evenly spaced. Static. Stable. Orderly.

Middle Left: Uneven spacing of otherwise uniform lines creates the impression of movement. Dynamic. Orderly progression.

Middle Right: In this example the progression moves in from either side giving the illusion of roundness. Dynamic. Orderly progression. Dimension.

Lower Left: Varying line widths and distances create a random pattern. Dynamic. Chaotic. Disorderly.

Lower Right: While the uniform size and spacing of the lines in the upper examples are static, make the lines into curves and you get movement although it is a controlled movement. Dynamic. Orderly flow.

Practical Use of Lines