Not all pieces incorporate every element; for example, lines and shapes can provide balance without a photo.
Shapes
From ancient pictographs to modern logos,shapesare at the root of design.
They can have soft curves, sharp angles, and everything in between.

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Lines
Lines divide space, direct the eye, and create forms.
Graphics specialists frequently combine lines with throw in.
Color
Color evokes deep emotion, and a designer can apply to any other element.

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Fonts (typefaces), size, alignment, color, and spacing all come into play.
Typefaces are generally broken into key in families, such as Times and Helvetica.
Further, key in has its ownanatomythat designers must understand to design with fonts effectively.

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Art, Illustration, and Photography
A powerful image can make or break a design.
Photos often play a large part in branding, so their selection is important.
Some graphic designers create this work on their own.

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A designer might also commission an artist or photographer, or purchase photos from one of many photo houses.
Texture
Texturecan be tactile (the actual surface of a design) or visual.
The paper and materials used in package design create this texture.

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In the second case, style implies texture.
Texture can apply to any other element in a design.
It can make text appear three-dimensional, flowery, sunken, or jagged.

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Texture can make a photograph appear as smooth as glass or jump out like a mountain range.