Friday, October 28, 2016

Landscape v. Portrait

I'm working on a post to announce the giveaway winner and list a bunch of holiday books recommended by YOU and those on my own shelf, for any who are interested. Many thanks to all who shared their favorite holiday books!

In the meantime, let's have a little lesson on image orientation.

Today's cards were inspired by a variety of clean-and-simple printed cards I've seen at Barnes & Noble and Papyrus and other places...a simple line image floating on a card with nothing else.

It doesn't get more CAS than this.




I thought the vertical image would work best on a horizontal card. The idea was that the tension created would add some interest.

I was wrong. Again. I'm really quite used to this.

The more I looked at the first card, the less satisfied I was. The cup looks squashed or something. It's just wrong. Which brings us to card #2:



Ahhh. Much better. The placement of the cup across the line one-third down from the top of the card gives an interesting horizontal asymmetry that reinforces the vertical asymmetry of the cup.

In this case, Portrait wins!

While most of you won't make cards quite this simple, keep in mind that changing the orientation of your card might fix whatever doesn't look quite right. Sometimes Portrait wins, sometimes Landscape wins. And when you get it right, you win, too.

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Warm Happiness
ink: Memento Luxe black
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: nothing whatsoever

9 comments:

  1. I love the stark design. Eye-catching ultra-CAS. :-)

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  3. Yes, the second card does work better - I like it a lot.

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  4. You challenge my thought processes with these principles! I have learned so much and even applied your lessons to freshen my 'usual style' stuff! :) ...With gratitude!!!

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    1. Thanks so much for telling me this! I'm so glad these posts are helping you. Hugs!

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  5. I had the same kind of challenge with the last card I made - I wanted to make it Landscape, but it refused to behave - so Portrait it was!
    I agree with Clavell's comment - I don't make many CAS cards, yet I've learned SO much from you - whether it's the "rule of thirds" or where to place my bling and visual triangles. Thank you!

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  6. If I sent a card like these my friends would laugh, "You forgot to finish your card." I do like the stark design of it though. I remember the year you stamped the greeting 'Merry Christmas' on a card and called it done. That really stuck with me.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!