TORIBIOMINOR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

GABAY, MAGOSATUBIG ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

Media and Information Literacy
MODULE 4 - Text and Visual Dimensions of Information and Media

Text may be defined as a simple and flexible format of presenting information or conveying
ideas whether hand-written, printed or displayed on-screen. It is very powerful in
disseminating information, providing direction and giving suggestions.

Text is available in different sources, which may be categorized into two:

1. Formal Example of these are news articles, published books,
newspapers, magazines, advertisements, research works, etc. Formal text- based
materials are created and distributed by established institutions (such as
publishing companies, news agencies, etc.) and go through a rigorous process of
editing or evaluation and are usually governed by censorship of the state.
2. Informal Examples of these are blogs, personal e-mails, SMS or text messages,
online messengers, social media platforms, etc. They come from personal
opinions or views on different issues, processes, etc.

Text can be as short such as a single sentence or phrase, or they can be as lengthy as
news articles or investigative reporting. No matter how brief or lengthy, however, a text is
always carefully written with the intent of sending a very specific message to the target
audience.

As consumers of text media and information, we need to ask questions regarding the text
content to ensure its reliability:
 Who or what institution is sending this message?
 What techniques are used to attract and hold attention?
 What is the language used by the writer?
 What views are represented? Are they balanced?
 How might the message be interpreted in different ways?
 What is omitted (removed), slurred (unclear) or added in the message?
As producers of text media and information, we need to review the media and information design framework:
• target audience,
• author or sender,
• key content,
• purpose,
• form/style, and
• format.

Text as Visual

Typeface font, font type, or type) is the representation or style of a text. A typeface is usually composed of
alphabets, numbers, punctuation marks, symbols and other special characters. Fonts in digital format are
installed in forms such as True Type Font (.ttf), Open Type Font (.otf), etc. Fonts convey different emotions
and meaning, and you must be very careful in choosing the right font for your content. The table below
presents the different types of fonts, their implications, uses, and examples.
Design Principles and Elements

The principles in designing text elements are emphasis, appropriateness, proximity, alignment, organization,
repetition and contrast. Observe how these elements are presented in each text frame.
 - Visual information and media are materials, programs, applications and the like that teachers and
students use to formulate new information to aid learning through the use, analysis, evaluation and
production of visual images. The following are types of visual media:

a. Photography

Mt. Makiling, shot using phone camera

b. Video

A scene from the short film

“Kinamulatan

c. Screenshot

Screenshot from a typical online class

d. Infographics

This was created to promote

netiquette in Mary Help of
Christians College, Laguna.

e. Comic strips /cartoons

Created by Johnrich Raymundo,
Ash Nabalona and Alexandra Ducay
for Camp Vicente Lim Integrated
School.

f. Meme

Image: "Memes for NBA"

by randycline5049 is marked with
CC PDM 1.0
G. Graph/chart

Pie graph for DepEd Tayo Camp Vicente

Lim Integrated School FB Page

H. Visual Note Taking

Image: "Visual Notetaking 101"

by jonnygoldstein is licensed
under CC BY 2.0

The primary purpose of visual information is to gain attention, create meaning, and facilitate retention, but how
can you create a striking visual? First, you must consider the visual elements, or the basic units in the construction
of a visual image. The Design Elements are:

1. Line
This describes a shape or outline. It can create texture and can be thick or thin.
Lines may be actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or contour.

Take note that lines provide meaning lso. Horizontal lines

are more static nd calm; vertical lines command
ttention and stability; diagonal lines may convey movement;
and contoured ines may evoke turbulence,
layfulness, and the likes.

2. Shape
A geometric area that stands out from the space next to or around it, or because
of differences in value, color, or texture. Shape may also be organic.

Three implied geometric shapes can be found in the picture above: diamond, octagon and triangle.
 Organic shape, like the eggplant pictured above, are irregular and asymmetrical in appearance and tends to
have curves, as in the case of shapes found in nature.
The degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.
Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme changes between values.

3. Value
The degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in
between. Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme changes between values.

4. Texture
The way a surface feels or is perceived to feel. Texture can be added to attract or repel interest to a visual element.
Two contrasting visual textures are presented in this picture taken in Bolinao, Pangasinan: the smoothness of the sea
and the roughness of the contorted branches.

5. Color
Determined by its hue (name of color), intensity (purity of the hue), and value (lightness or darkness of hue). Color
and color combination can play a large role in the design. Color may be used for emphasis, or may elicit emotions
from viewers. Color may be warm, cool, or neutral. It plays a major role in our visual perception, as it influences our
reactions about the world around us. It is therefore important to create color palettes that evoke the appropriate
audience reactions.

6. Form
A figure having volume and thickness. An illusion of a 3-dimensional object can be implied with the use of light and
shading.

Through digital means, shadows are placed in the On the other hand, thick pen strokes are used to achieve
drawing above in order volume and thickness on the sketch in this sketch.
to provide a three-dimensional effect.

II – Answer the ff below: Write your answer on a yellow pad paper. 1 whole sheet of paper.

Multiple Choice. Write the letter corresponding to the correct answer.

1. the meaning of “.ttf”
a. tapered type font c. True type font
b. text type font
2. typeface that carries a solid or heavy look to text
a. sans serif
b. serif
c. slab serif
3. the basic rule in emphasizing a subject in a composition
a. golden ratio b. rule of odds
c. rule of thirds
4. a visual design principle that brings together a composition with similar units
a. balance b. contrast c. harmony
5. the visual flow of a composition
a. directional movement
b. perspective
c. rhythmic pattern
6. a shot where the subject is framed from shoulders up
a. close up
 b. extreme close up
c. medium close up

7. a shot perfect to show the world where the story takes place
a. extreme wide shot b. full shot c. long shot
8. another term for Dutch angle
a. canted shot
b. over the shoulder shot
c. worm’s eye view
9. a camera angle that makes a subject look powerful and imposing
a. eye level
b. high angle
c. low angle
10.a shot taken from an elevated point
a. bird’s eye view
b. Dutch angle
c. eye level

III- Identify the different pictures below on the different types of visual media and design elements.

7.
2

8.

3. 9.
1o.

4.

5. 11.
 6. 12.
14.

13.

15.

IV. Fill in the table bellow

ELEMENTS DISCRIPTION(S)
1. Alignment

2. Repetition

3. Organization

4. Contrast

5. Proximity

V. Let’s have a brief review of what we have learned so far. Match the items in
Column A with items in Column B.

ANSWER A B

1. serif a. a visual discord in a composition

2. sans serif b. may be done using drones

3. script c. makes the subject look powerful

4. slab serif d. Lorem ipsum
5. balance e. away from the center

6. contrast f. Lorem ipsum

7. rhythm g. visual equality

8. rule of thirds h. Lorem ipsum

9. color i. canted shot

10. texture j. character is seen from head to

toe.
11. medium close-up k. hue, intensity, value

12. Dutch Angle l. regularly recurring elements

13. bird’s eye view m. perceived feeling of a surface

14. full shot n.

15. low angle shot o. shot from shoulders up