DTP

Elements and Principles

In addition to the design elements and principles from Higher Graphic Communication:

  • Design elements: pace, focal point, silhouettes

  • Design principles: golden ratio, rule of thirds, dynamic effects, radial balance, negative space

These resources are for the Elements and Principles within the Advanced Higher course

Principles and Elements Adv Higher.pdf
Design Elements & Principles for Adv Higher.pdf

Elements and Principles which you should already know from the Higher course

DTP - design elements & principles.pdf

DTP Terms and Techniques

  • Grid

  • Guidelines

  • Cropping

  • Rotate

  • Text box

  • Text Wrap

  • Flow text along a path

  • Extended Text

  • Colour Fill

  • Textured Fill

  • Gradient Fill

  • Transparency

  • Drop Shadow

  • Serif and Sans Serif font style

  • Reverse

  • Drop Caps

  • Column

  • Margin

  • Gutter

  • Caption

  • Heading

  • Header and Footer

  • Indent

  • Line Spacing

  • Pull Quote

  • Justification

  • Bleed

Colour Theory

  • Warm

  • Cool

  • Contrast

  • Harmony

  • Advancing

  • Receding

  • Mood

  • Tints

  • Shades

  • Primary

  • Secondary

  • Tertiary

  • Accent

Sample Exam Question:

Design elements and principles

2017: question 3 (a)

2018: question 2 (b)


Learners tend to answer exam questions about design elements and principles well, however you should make sure you read the questions carefully. In the 2019 exam, (question 5 (b)) some learners lost marks because their answers did not include elements or principles.