Visual Perception 2 / Feature Hierarchy

Picture taken from:
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20070819,00.html

The above "TIME - Style & Design" magazine is related to this week’s topics, for it utilizes feature channel hierarchies: 

• Shape / Size
• Color
• Spatial Layout

By viewing this "Time" magazine cover as a whole, we can see that the most eye-catching feature of the visual hierarchy with this magazine is the size. The title of the magazine: "TIME" has the largest font on this magazine, which makes the word visually pops-out the most on this cover. Therefore, viewers tend to draw their attention to it first.

Secondly, the red colored border of the magazine cover would definitely attract viewers' eye. The rectangle shape of the border works as a frame, which not only help holding and organizing information together on the cover, but it also helps to emphasize the photograph of the cover.

Thirdly, viewers will notice the black colored eyeglasses frame, for it has a high contrast with the skin-colored background. The black-colored glasses frame help lead reader's eye to focus on the center of the magazine. 

Last but not least, when the viewer is looking at the center of the magazine, they will be appealing to the deepness of the eye. Even though Color and shape tend to attract attention more readily, depth is also one of the most effective preattentive channels.

Eventually, viewer will scan down and read the small caption of the magazine to seek the detailed information about this magazine