The elements of presentational images.
Actional processes. Actional processes are about an action which relates to the main target when it’s represented. The action can be interpreted in various ways depending on size, place in the composition, contrast against background, colour saturation or conspicuousness, sharpness of focus, vectors and directional movement.
Reactional processes. Reactional processes refer to the reactions of offer and acceptance by the main target - either with another participant or object in the visual, or with the audience. They can be found in the relationship between the participants and the reader, and the participants with each other. Examples of reactional processes include the direction of the main target’s glance, facial expression, eye contact, gestures and postures.
‘Reading Images’ makes a strong argument in showing how different information serves different purposes. It is also clear that one needn’t have all information to understand the meaning of a text. Kress and van Leeuwen provide comprehensive analysis of methods of representing visual and written language in the most effective ways. It clearly explains how visual communication forms a system that is related to human perception, which has been ‘naturalised’ in communication.
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