DTP Graphic Design Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which color scheme uses three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel?
- Analogous
- Complementary
- Triadic (Correct answer)
- Split-complementary
Correct answer: Triadic
A triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced 120° apart on the color wheel, creating vibrant and balanced contrast.
Question 2: The term 'leading' in typography refers to:
- The space between individual characters
- The vertical space between lines of text (Correct answer)
- The weight of a typeface
- The angle of italic letterforms
Correct answer: The vertical space between lines of text
Leading is the vertical distance between baselines of successive lines of text, originally set by inserting lead strips between lines of metal type.
Question 3: Which design principle is most violated when a page contains too many competing focal points?
- Repetition
- Emphasis (Correct answer)
- Proximity
- Rhythm
Correct answer: Emphasis
When too many elements compete for attention, the principle of emphasis breaks down because nothing stands out as the primary focal point.
Question 4: In the context of graphic design, 'negative space' is best described as:
- Dark colors used in the background
- The empty or unmarked area around and between subjects (Correct answer)
- Space that creates a depressing mood
- Text that has been reversed to white
Correct answer: The empty or unmarked area around and between subjects
Negative space (or white space) is the empty area surrounding design elements that helps define and enhance the overall composition.
Question 5: A color's 'value' in design refers to its:
- Hue or dominant wavelength
- Purity or intensity
- Lightness or darkness (Correct answer)
- Temperature (warm or cool)
Correct answer: Lightness or darkness
Value describes how light or dark a color is, ranging from white (highest value) to black (lowest value).
Question 6: Which layout grid system divides the page into thirds both horizontally and vertically to guide element placement?
- Baseline grid
- Modular grid
- Rule of thirds (Correct answer)
- Golden ratio
Correct answer: Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds divides a composition into nine equal parts with two horizontal and two vertical lines, with key elements placed at the intersections.
Question 7: When text is set so that both the left and right edges are perfectly aligned, this is called:
- Flush left
- Centered alignment
- Justified alignment (Correct answer)
- Ragged right
Correct answer: Justified alignment
Justified alignment spaces words so both the left and right margins form clean, straight edges, common in newspapers and books.
DTP Graphic Design Principles 3
Which color scheme uses three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel?