Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Positive-negative space
Relationships between foreground (positive) and background (negative space) within an
image or design can alter ambience and character, help to provide respite from visual clutter
and create visual focus on key elements such as text.
In the poster for
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(1989), strategic use of positive-neg-
ative space sets up a Rubin's vase-style illusion which draws attention to a theme of the
film and frames key elements such as film title and credits. The positive-negative cut-outs
'A' and 'I' in the poster for
Artificial Intelligence
(2001) highlights the key character of the
film.
Figure 60. Strategic use of positive-negative space.
Positive-negative space variations in the posters for
Clockwork Orange
(1971) and
Public
Enemies
(2009) create interesting and ambiguous figure-ground boundaries plus draw at-
tention to the film titles, taglines and credits.
