Exaggerated proportions

Emphasized parts guide the overall impression.

Visual traits

• Partial enlargement or reduction
• Deliberate proportional contrast

Expected changes

• Part size or length is more likely to be emphasized
• The overall impression is more likely to change through proportion

Definition

Form proportions that make parts larger, smaller, longer, or shorter relative to the whole to create visual emphasis. Subject, art style, representational level, and medium are separate choices.

In more detail

It changes a form's impression by selecting parts to emphasize. Degree of exaggeration and subject recognizability can be adjusted separately.

Includes

• Forms that alter the proportions of parts relative to the whole

Excludes

• Apparent shrinking from perspective
• A particular art style or representational level
• Pose or composition

What this does not imply

• A particular art style, subject, or representational level
• Perspective
• A particular pose

Variability

Exaggeration can range from subtle adjustment to major distortion while retaining recognition.

Usage

• Specify only proportional change
• Specify the affected part and subject separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Distinguish it from apparent change caused by perspective

Typical uses

• Make a feature more prominent
• Create a memorable silhouette

Possible failure modes

• No part is emphasized and proportions become ordinary
• Distortion is too strong to recognize the subject