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LESSON 8: DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF DESIGNS - I

STRUCTURE

8.0 OBJECTIVES

8.1 INTRODUCTION

8.2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF DESIGN

8.3 EQUIDISTANT PLACEMENT

8.4 HALF DROP OR BRICK LAYOUT

8.5 ALL OVER PLACEMENT

8.6 ASSIGNMENTS

8.6.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS 8.6.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS

8.7 SUMMING UP

8.8 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

8.9 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING

8.10 GLOSSARY

8. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF DESIGNS - I

In the previous lesson, we had learnt that the positioning of a motif on the design surface is called ‘placement of design’. In this lesson we will list the different types of placements and learn about three different types of placement of design in some detail.

7.0 Objectives

After going through this lesson, you will:

• Acquire an understanding of how to make three types of placement of designs, namely, equidistant placement, half drop placement and all over placement.

• Be able to identify these three types of placement of designs.

8.1 Introduction

As stated earlier, the positioning of a motif on the design surface is called Placement of Design. We also saw that (i) grids are simple geometric shapes put together to create a network / web of the same or different shapes, repeated a number of times, to fill up the entire space, and (ii) all placements have an underlying, invisible geometrical grid that is followed to create a surface design. In this lesson, we will sketch the different types of placements and describe three of them in some detail.

8.2 Different Types of Placement of Designs

Broadly speaking, there are six different types of placement viz.:

i) Equidistant (Fig. 8. 1)

ii) Half Drop or Brick Repeat (Fig. 8 .2)

iii) All Over (Fig. 8. 3)

Fig. 8.1 Fig. 8.2 Fig. 8.3

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iv) Stripes: vertical/ horizontal/ diagonal (Figs. 8.4a, 8.4b & 8.4c)

v) Checks: vertical/diagonal (Figs. 8.5a & 8.5b)

vi) Radial (Fig. 8.6)

In this lesson the first three types of placements will now be described in some detail. The remaining three types will be dealt with in the next lesson.

Activity

1. Collect photographs or cloth samples of the six kinds of placements mentioned above and neatly paste them in your scrapbook.

8.3 Equidistant Placements

Imagine that we have a square grid of 2 inch sides. If we place a floral buti at its each end point the motif gets placed at equal distances. The placement can be repeated in the rows below. We will now get a surface of the motifs placed at equal distances both vertically and horizontally. This is called equidistant placement (Fig. 8.7).

Fig. 8.4a

Fig. 8.5a

Fig. 8.6b

Fig. 8.4b

Fig. 8.5b

Fig. 8.4c

In the laboratory you would have an opportunity to examine a range of surfaces with the placement as described above, from textiles – embroidered, printed, block designs. You can also show placements from different media – architecture, ceramics etc.

Thus, when the motifs are placed at equal distances on vertical and horizontal sides we get an equidistant placement.

8.4 Half Drop or Brick Repeat Layout

To understand this placement, let us draw a square grid, displace the horizontal rows such that the squares don’t fall exactly under each other but are placed in the center of the above square. This is exactly how bricks are laid for construction. Now if motifs are placed in this structure, we will get a Brick Repeat or Half Drop placement (Fig. 8.8). The drop or the gap between the motifs can vary and this gives us many variations.

In the practical class you will have an opportunity to examine surfaces with the placements as described above, from textiles – embroidered, printed, block designs and from different media – architecture, ceramics etc.

Thus, when a motif is placed at four corners of the square grid and also in its centers, and this is repeated it gives the Half Drop placement.

8.5 All Over Placement

This particular placement is not directional. The motifs in such a design are randomly placed, with regular or irregular spacing, and facing different directions. The pattern forms an overall surface and hence the name All Over Placement.

Fig. 8.7

Fig. 8.8

Fig. 8.9

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Now if we take the floral buti and place it in a random order, such that the butis are pointing in various directions we will get an All Over design (Fig. 8.9)

Activity

2. Draw a square grid and make an equidistant placement design.

3. Draw a square grid in such a way that horizontal squares do not fall exactly under each other and make a half drop placement design.

4. Take a floral buti and place it a random order so that an all over placement design is formed.

8.6 Assignments

8.6.1 Class assignments

Draw each of the following designs on half imperial cartridge sheets:

i) A floral buti. You can look at Mughal textiles or Rajasthan block prints for inspiration.

ii) A monument. You can copy from any photo or illustration. It would be even better if you could go to a nearby historic monument, palace or old haveli during the field visit and draw the actual monument. Also note the various architectural details in the same. Keep a note and sketch out little parts in full detail.

iii) A geometrical motif with triangles, squares and circles. You can also see mandala drawings, tantric art, and works of artist Raza.

iv) Take the motifs you have made at i), ii) and iii) above and place them at Equidistance to create a surface of 12’’x12’’. You can use photocopier to reduce the size of the monument.

v) Take the motifs you have made in at i), ii) and iii) above and place them in Half Drop placement and create a surface of 12’’x12’’.

vi) Take the motifs you have made in at i), ii) and iii) above and place them randomly, facing different directions and create an All Over design surface of 12’’x12’’.

By now, you must have learnt about the three types of placements – Equidistant, Half Drop and All Over. Though they can be placed in different styles mentioned earlier, each motif has its own design characteristic due to which only one placement may be best suited for it.

8.6.2 Home assignments

i) Take 10 different types of motifs and form patterns using the placements you have leant in this lesson, i.e., Equidistant, Half Drop and All Over.

8.7 Summing Up

In this lesson, we have learnt that:

• There are six different types of placements, viz. Equidistant, Half Drop or Brick Repeat, All Over, Stripes (vertical / horizontal / diagonal), Checks (vertical / diagonal) and Radial.

• When the motifs are placed at equal distances on vertical and horizontal sides, we get an equidistant placement.

• When a motif is placed at four corners of a square grid and also in its center, and this is repeated it gives us the Half Drop placement.

• The drop or the gap between motifs can vary and this gives many variations.

• Motifs placed in a random order, all over the surface with irregular spacing and with no prominent direction give a placement design called All Over placement.

• Due to the design characteristic of each motif, only one particular placement will be better suited to one motif.

8.8 Terminal Questions

1. How many types of placements are there? Name them.

2. What is meant by ‘Equidistant Placement’?

3. What is meant by ‘Half Drop or Brick Repeat Layout’?

4. Explain ‘All Over Placement’.

5. Choose the correct answer:

i) When the motifs are placed at equal distances, both vertically and horizontally, it is called –

a. All Over Placement b. Zig zag Placement c. Half Drop Placement d. Equidistant Placement

6. Fill in the blanks:

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i) When a motif is placed at four corners of the square grid and also in its centers, and this is repeated, it gives ________________.

ii) When the motifs are randomly placed with regular or irregular spacing, and facing different directions, we get ________________.

8.9 References and Suggested Further Reading

1. Betala, R. 2005. Design Comprehension and Visualization. Aan Books, New Delhi.

2. Yates, M. 1998. Textile: A handbook for designers. W.W. Norton & Co. New York.

8.10 Glossary

1. Sequence: An order in which related things follow each other.

2. Displace: Move from proper or usual position.

3. Structure: The way a thing is constructed or organized.

4. Variations: A change or slight difference

5. Randomly: Done or happening without an order or planning.

6. Regular: Arranged in an evenly spaced pattern

7. Irregular: Arranged in an unevenly spaced pattern

8. Style: A way of doing something

9. Characteristics: Features

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