Editing Visual communication (section)

==Overview==
The debate about the nature of visual communication dates back thousands of years. Visual communication relies on a collection of activities, communicating ideas, attitudes, and values via visual resources, i.e. text, graphics, or video.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Power of Visual Communication |date=April 2017 |access-date=2023-04-03 |url=https://www.pwc.com.au/the-difference/the-power-of-visual-communication-apr17.pdf}}</ref> The evaluation of a good [[Visual design|visual communication design]] is mainly based on measuring comprehension by the audience, not on personal aesthetic and/or artistic preference as there are no universally agreed-upon principles of aesthetics.<ref>Jorge Frascara (2004). ''Communication design: principles, methods, and practice''. p.68</ref> Visual communication by [[e-mail]], a textual medium, is commonly expressed with [[ASCII art]], [[emoticon]]s, and embedded [[digital image]]s. Visual communication has become one of the most important approaches using which people communicate and share information.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why Visual Communication is So Important in Content Marketing|date=21 November 2019 |url=https://blog.markgrowth.com/why-visual-communication-is-so-important-in-content-marketing-d955ccd932a2}}</ref>

The term 'visual presentation' is used to refer to the actual presentation of information through a visible medium such as text or images. Recent research in the field has focused on [[web design]] and graphically-oriented usability.<ref name=":72">{{Cite book|first=Ruzaimi Mat |last=Rani|title=A guide to visual presentation|date=2015-09-15|publisher=Rockport Publishers |isbn=978-1-63159-103-7|oclc=900012442}}{{page needed|date=February 2021}}</ref>

===Important figures===
[[Aldous Huxley]] is regarded as one of the most prominent explorers of visual communication and sight-related theories.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Visual Imperative: Creating a Visual Culture of Data Discovery|last=Ryan|first=Lindy|publisher=Morgan Kaufmann|date=2016|isbn=978-0128038444|pages=116}}</ref> Becoming near-blind in his teen years as the result of an illness influenced his approach, and his work includes important novels on the dehumanizing aspects of scientific progress, most famously ''[[Brave New World]]'' and ''[[The Art of Seeing]]''. He described "seeing" as being the sum of sensing, selecting, and perceiving. One of his most famous quotes is "The more you see, the more you know."

[[Max Wertheimer]] is said to be the father of [[Gestalt psychology]]. Gestalt means ''form'' or ''shape'' in German, and the study of Gestalt psychology show emphasis in simplicity, as its properties group visuals by similarity in shape or color, continuity, and proximity. Additional laws include closure and figure-ground principles in studied images is also intensively taught.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maldonado Moscoso |first1=Paula A. |last2=Anobile |first2=Giovanni |last3=Burr |first3=David C. |last4=Arrighi |first4=Roberto |last5=Castaldi |first5=Elisa |date=2022-08-24 |title=Symmetry as a grouping cue for numerosity perception |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=14418 |doi=10.1038/s41598-022-18386-3 |pmid=36002617 |pmc=9402546 |bibcode=2022NatSR..1214418M |issn=2045-2322|hdl=2158/1279895 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Köhler are also prominent figures in early visual communication research.  <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurt Koffka {{!}} Gestalt Theory, Perception & Psychology {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kurt-Koffka |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Image analysis ===
Visual communication contains image aspects. The interpretation of images is subjective and to understand the depth of meaning, or multiple meanings, communicated in an image requires [[image analysis]]. Images can be analyzed through many perspectives, for example these six major perspectives presented by [[Paul Martin Lester]]: Personal, Historical, Technical, Ethical, Cultural, and Critical.<ref name=":6">[[Paul Martin Lester]].  ''Visual Communication: Images with Messages''. Belmont, CA: [[Thomson Wadsworth]], 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-534-63720-0}}.{{page needed|date=February 2021}}</ref>
* '''Personal perspective:''' When a viewer has an opinion about an image based on their personal thoughts. Personal response depends on the viewer's thoughts and values, individually. However, this might sometimes conflict with cultural values. Also when a viewer has viewed an image with a personal perspective, it is hard to change the view of the image on the viewer, {{Black|even though the image can be seen in other ways}}.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Historical perspective:''' An image's view can be arising from the history of the use of media. Through times sort images have been changed, because the use of different (new) media. For example: The result of using the computer to edit images (e.g. Photoshop) is quite different when comparing images that are made and edited by craft.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Technical perspective:''' When the view of an image is influenced by the use of lights, position and the presentation of the image. The right use of light, position and presentation of the image can improve the view of the image. It makes the image looks better than the reality.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Ethical perspective:''' From this perspective, the maker of the image, the viewer and the image itself must be responsible morally and ethically to the image. This perspective is also categorized in six categories: [[categorical imperative]], utilitarianism, hedonism, golden mean, golden rule, and veil of ignorance.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Cultural perspective:''' Symbolization is an important definition for this perspective. Cultural perspective involves identity of symbols.  The uses of words that are related with the image, the use of heroes in the image, etc. are the symbolization of the image. The cultural perspective can also be seen as the semiotic perspective.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Critical perspective:''' The view of images in the critical perspective is when the viewers criticize the images, but the critics have been made in interests of the society, although an individual makes the critics. This way this perspective differs from the personal perspective.<ref name=":6" />

=== Visual aid media: Simple to advanced ===
* '''Chalkboard or whiteboard:''' Chalkboards and whiteboards are very useful visual aids, particularly when more advanced types of media are available. They are cheap and also allow for much flexibility.<ref name="roth4">{{cite book|last=Rothwell|first=J. Dan|title=In the company of others : an introduction to communication|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=2010|isbn=978-0-19-533630-6|edition=3rd|location=New York}}{{page needed|date=February 2021}}</ref> The use of chalkboards or whiteboards is convenient, but they are not a perfect visual aid. Often, using this medium as an aid can create confusion or boredom. Particularly if a student who is not familiar with how to properly use visual aids attempts to draw on a board while they are speaking, they detract time and attention from their actual speech.<ref name="roth4" />
* '''Poster board:''' A poster is a very simple and easy visual aid.  Posters can display charts, graphs, pictures, or illustrations. The biggest drawback of using a poster as a visual aid is that often a poster can appear unprofessional. Since a poster board paper is relatively flimsy, often the paper will bend or fall over. The best way to present a poster is to hang it up or tape it to a wall.<ref name="roth4" />
* '''Handouts:''' Handouts can also display charts, graphs, pictures, or illustrations.  An important aspect of the use of a handout is that a person can keep a handout with them long after the presentation is over. This can help the person better remember what was discussed.  Passing out handouts, however, can be extremely distracting.  Once a handout is given out, it might potentially be difficult to bring back your audience's attention.  The person who receives the handout might be tempted to read what is on the paper, which will keep them from listening to what the speaker is saying. If using a handout, the speaker distributes the hand out right before you reference it.<ref name="maui3">{{cite web|last=Kumu|first=Ka|title=Using Visual Aids Effectively|url=http://www.hawaii.edu/mauispeech/html/visual_aids.html|access-date=19 March 2012|publisher=[[University of Hawaiʻi Maui College]] Speech Department}}</ref> Distributing handouts is acceptable in a lecture that is an hour or two, but in a short lecture of five to ten minutes, a handout should not be used.<ref name="roth4" />
* '''Video excerpts:''' A video can be a great visual aid and attention grabber, however, a video is not a replacement for an actual speech. There are several potential drawbacks to playing a video during a speech or lecture. First, if a video is playing that includes audio, the speaker will not be able to talk.  Also, if the video is very exciting and interesting, it can make what the speaker is saying appear boring and uninteresting. The key to showing a video during a presentation is to make sure to transition smoothly into the video and to only show very short clips.<ref name="roth4" />
* '''Projection equipment:''' There are several types of projectors. These include slide projectors, overhead projectors, and computer projectors. Slide projectors are the oldest form of projector, and are no longer used. Overhead projectors are still used but are somewhat inconvenient to use. In order to use an overhead projector, a transparency must be made of whatever is being projected onto the screen. This takes time and costs money. Computer projectors are the most technologically advanced projectors.  When using a computer projector, pictures and slides are easily taken right from a computer either online or from a saved file and are blown up and shown on a large screen.  Though computer projectors are technologically advanced, they are not always completely reliable because technological breakdowns are not uncommon of the computers of today.<ref name="roth4" />
* '''Computer-assisted presentations:''' Presentations through [[presentation software]] can be an extremely useful visual aid, especially for longer presentations. For five- to ten-minute presentations, it is probably not worth the time or effort to put together a deck of slides. For longer presentations, however, they can be a great way to keep the audience engaged and keep the speaker on track. A potential drawback of using them is that it usually takes a lot of time and energy to put together. There is also the possibility of a computer malfunction, which can mess up the flow of a presentation.<ref name="roth4" />