​2D Collage Techniques

​2D Collage Techniques

By Jordan Fiut

These slides should give you some ideas on how and when to use techniques when creating your own collages - remember to consider how any of these techniques can really help highlight your chosen messge!

Done with scissors, creates clean, sharp lines.

Cutting

Done with hands, creates jagged edges which can either be abrupt or act as a softer edge.

Tearing

Done with specialty scissors, creates a decorative edge that draws the eye.

Fancy Cutting

​Separating Paper

Multiple Choice

What is NOT a way to separate paper for collage?

• cutting

• tearing

• fancy cutting

• eating

Implies balance, good to show contrast and separating ideas.

Vertical Lines

Stable line, imples rest, good for background, unifying ideas, and underlining to support a visual.

Horizonal Lines

Implies movement or lack of balance, draws the eye, good for dynamics and emphasis.

Diagonal Lines

​Lines to use

Dropdown

Usually, the best line to show action or movement is a​

Select answer

line.

Stacking paper on top of one another, this is good for creating depth or distance.

Layering

Slightly stacking paper on one another, this can show an order of importance, a repeated idea, or the loudest 'voices' in a debate.

Overlapping

Layering papers and then tearing/cutting the top away to reveal the image hidden underneath. This can be a good visual for symbols or metaphors.

Decollage/Reveal

​Layers of Paper

Playing with both the used and unused areas in a collage can be a good way of drawing attention to what could be missing.

Positive vs Negative Space

Think about how you will be using positive space in your collage, and if every space will be filled - it can look busy but also gives a lot of focal points.

ALL Positive Space?

​Space

Hotspot

Click the area that is NEGATIVE space in the image.

By cutting up an image and glueing it down with a little space in between, you can show a sense of broken or disjointedness.

Explode/Shatter

By placing images or colors closely together, you can create a frankenstein-image, which can either represent parts coming together to form and define a bigger picture. Or you could create something that purposefully looks unnatural.

Patching

​Breaking Things Down

Choosing a selection of text that has been cut out together is meant to be read as a quote or taken at face value.

​​Connected Text

Cutting eye-catching letters/words and rearranging them can lend a sense of mystery, interest, or deception to a collage.

Disconnected Text

​Text

Multiple Choice

Patching can ONLY make things look unnatural.

• True

• False

This element can be useful to the overall visual style of your work. If you want an area that really draws the eye, try adding a bit of texture to it!

Texture

By not fully gluing down some papers, you can create a soft sense of texture and movement.

Lifting

To really make something stand out and "pop", you can glue a small block of paper under a piece to bring it above the rest of your work.

Raising

If you have any small/light objects that can be glued to your work AND add meaning, see where they would look good for a 3D element.

Real Objects?

​Adding a 3D Element

Multiple Select

(Pick 3) How can you add 3D elements to your work?

• Glueing small/light objects to your work.

• Lifting/curling unglued parts of your paper away from the background.

• Sculpting clay onto your background.

• Placing a small block of paper behind and raising the image above the background.

Contrast (the arrangement of opposite elements in a work) is one of the 3 most important Principles of Design when working with collage. It determines what viewers will look at most and can emphasize the message you are trying to convey. A strong contrast will help you see a strong diffrence between two images or ideas.

Contrast

Balance (the arrangement of elements to create a sense of stability) is the 2nd Principle of Design that matters most with collage, as it means having a visually appealing spread of elements across your work. You can also use asymmetry in your favor, as it can highlight an imbalance in your chosen issue.

Balance

Unity (the arrangement of elements such that they visually belong together) is the final important Principle of Design for collage, and can be done through repeated/matching color, line movement, pattern, symbolism, etc.

Unity

Match

Match the following Principles of Design to their definition.

• Arrangement of opposite elements. Ex: light vs dark, rough vs smooth, large vs small.

• Arrangement of elements to create a sense of stability. Ex: symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.

• The arrangement of elements such that they visually belong together.

Contrast

Balance

Unity

• Contrast

• Balance

• Unity

Remember, there is no 'right' way...

These techniques can give you some ideas on how to use your resources and materials, but ultimately it's up to you what to do with them. You might have some ideas that are entirely outside of this set - try them!!!!