Want to know more about illustration? Or do you want to become an illustration artist? Digital illustration, scientific illustration, there are so many terms! In this article, you will learn the meaning of illustration, discover types of illustration, and much more!
What is illustration?
Illustration is a form of visual art that conveys information, ideas, or narratives through images. It is often used in books, magazines, advertisements, or digital media.
Overall, good illustrations improve comprehension, attract attention, and enrich the overall reading experience.
The definition of illustration also says that an illustration can explain an idea even without any text nearby. The person looking at the picture must see the story, “reading” it as if reading the text. Telling a story with illustrations means conveying a meaning, and explaining a certain context only with the help of pictures.
Let’s learn more about the types of illustrations and where they are used. There are many areas that require visualization, here are some of them:
Editorial Illustration
Editorial illustrations are illustrations drawn to help explain a concept from a text. Often, you will find editorial illustrations in magazines, newspapers, book covers, or online sources. Editorial illustrations should always accompany the text, as their only role is to add to the mood, idea or information of the content. Sometimes editorial illustrations tend to be metaphorical.
Advertising Illustrations
Advertising illustration is a type of artwork used in promotional materials with the main goal of attracting the viewer’s attention. It can be used without any text or just a company logo, but it must represent a strong message to be memorable and effective.
Concept Art Illustrations
Concept art is typically created for locations, characters, costumes, and objects used in films, video games, graphic novels, and comic books. These illustration styles are used as a starting point to help content creators determine the style and design of different visual elements.
Concept art is often produced in multiple stages and must receive input from various stakeholders. It is not uncommon for concept art to be used to show the progress of a project. For example, if you want to display it to clients, partners, investors, or in advertising.
The most important thing is to choose the most appropriate image, not the most beautiful one.
Fun fact: Disney Animation Studios was the first famous studio to use the term concept art in the 1930s.
Fashion Illustrations
Fashion illustration is a technique of visualizing clothing before it is produced. Fashion illustration focuses on body silhouettes, colors, and textures. Fashion designers often use these images during their creative process.
The majority of fashion illustrators work on projects for fashion publications, websites, or companies to increase the visual appeal of a concept to potential buyers. They are also used by stylists and fashion consultants to assist their clients in making style decisions.
Technical Illustration
Technical illustrations depict something accurately to make it easier to understand. Clarity and simplicity of the image are more important in technical illustration than the beauty of the image.
Blueprints, technical publications, manuals, technical diagrams, and equipment installation drawings are some of the most popular formats for technical illustrations. Typically, technical illustrations are created using special software programs.
Infographics
Infographics are a collection of images and diagrams, accompanied by a small amount of text, that help viewers quickly understand the important facts of a topic. Infographics not only make information easier to understand but also provide a large amount of data at a glance. Infographics are associated with graphic design and communication; however, they can also be classified as a type of illustration.
Packaging Illustrations
Packaging illustrations help brands sell their goods, just like advertising illustrations. It should be eye-catching and grab the viewer’s attention while highlighting certain product features.
The purpose of packaging illustrations is also to give a personal touch to a product and help build the brand. Packaging illustrators often coordinate with consumer safety groups to ensure images accurately reflect the product and do not harm consumers.
Flat Illustration
Flat illustrations are here to stay! It’s all about perspective and depth of image. You can see this style in apps, websites, and all kinds of digital designs.
Conclusion
Those are some types of illustrations in general. Are you an illustrator or a user of illustration? It’s a good idea for you to know the types first so that you can then decide which illustration is right for your interests or your company’s goals for using illustrations.
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