Composition in fashion illustration
refers to the arrangement of the
visual elements within its defined
dimensions, and the relationship
between these elements. As there
is such variety in fashion illustration,
applying fixed rules to composition is
not really appropriate. However, there
are some underlying principles that
should be considered by fashion
students – these may also be
regarded as intuitive. The relationship between the
elements can be classified by what
is referred to as the ‘positive image’
and the ‘negative space’. The
positive image refers directly to the
subject, usually the human figure in
a fashion illustration, while negative
space refers to the space around
and between the subjects. The
positive image and negative space
are equally important in determining
a visually engaging composition.
The layout of a successful fashion
illustration has considered placement
in order to achieve the desired effect
or visual impact. This is usually
aimed at capturing the viewer’s
attention and directing their eye
over the illustration. Before the arrival
of digital media this was achieved
through a manual process of rough
draft planning and gradually layering
up the composed illustration. Today,
the ability to work with separate
layers for digital images has
facilitated the process and made it much more versatile. Once
in digital form, illustrations may
be edited and formatted to fit a
particular presentation or printing
requirement. Whichever route you
take, whether it is hand-rendered or
digital, planning and composing your
illustration is always important and
you should consider the illustration’s
purpose – for presentation or
inclusion within a portfolio.