) is derived from natural forms; i. e.,
leaves, flowers, etc. The leaves, stems, and flowers which are adapted to
form the ornament shown in Fig. 1 are a flat pattern of black and white.
The same material is rendered pictorially in the pen sketch accompanying
the ornament. It will be observed that the flat treatment of the
ornament depends upon arrangement of interesting flat masses for its
significance. The pen sketch not only conveys an impression of the form
of the natural objects, but it also suggests depth. A photograph of the
natural objects, reproduced by a printing plate, would be still more
realistic.

The preceding points have been given emphasis as a warning against a
tendency to use pictures, however pleasing, as decorative material; or
to allow design in printing to be concerned with a representation of
depth. The same masses of shadow and light which express roundness or
depth in a picture may be formed into decorative flat masses and thus
embodied in the design of the page. In Fig. 2, A is a picture which
might be used as an illustration or for its own interest. B is a flat
rendering whose arrangement of masses suggests the pictorial interest of
A without denying the flat surface upon which it is printed.

_The Materials of Design_

Since design is a matter of arrangement, its materials are the _masses_,
_lines_, and _dots_ which make up the whole form.

A dot theoretically has no dimensions. And a line (being the path of a
dot in motion) theoretically has length but no width. While if a line be
moved sideways it produces a _mass_ which has area and shape.

Practically, a dot may be larger than a pin point and may have definite
shape--a square dot or a round dot. Also in the common terms of design a
line may have width (often called weight). Thus we speak of a narrow or
light line as contrasted with a wide or heavy line.

[Illustration: Fig. 2, A. Halftone engraving from a photograph,
retaining full pictorial effect of depth, expressed in various gray
tones and soft edges. This is an illustration.]

[Illustration: Fig. 2, B. Decorative pen drawing from the same subject,
telling the story of the photograph in flat surfaces of black and white.
Suitable to decorate a type page.]

A mass will have shape, which is the impression conveyed to the eye by
its general contour. It will have size or measure, which will be its
actual or relative area. It will further have tone or color, its general
rela