LESSON 8: DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF

DESIGNS - I

STRUCTURE

8.0 OBJECTIVES

8.1 INTRODUCTION

8.2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF D ESIGN

8.3 EQUIDISTANT PLACEMENT

8.4 HALF D ROP OR BRICK LAYOUT

8.5 ALL OVER PLACEMENT

8.6 ASSIGNMENTS
8.6.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
8.6.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS

8.7 SUMMING UP

8.8 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

8.9 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING

8.10 GLOSSARY

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 8. DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLACEMENT OF DESIGNS - I
In the previous lesson, we had learnt that the positioning of a motif on the
design surface is called ‘placement of design’. In this lesson we will list the different
types of placements and learn about three different types of placement of design in
some detail.

7.0 Objectives
After going through this lesson, you will:

• Acquire an understanding of how to make three types of placement of

designs, namely, equidistant placement, half drop placement and all over
placement.

• Be able to identify these three types of placement of designs.

8.1 Introduction
As stated earlier, the positioning of a motif on the design surface is called
Placement of Design. We also saw that (i) grids are simple geometric shapes put
together to create a network / web of the same or different shapes, repeated a
number of times, to fill up the entire space, and (ii) all placements have an
underlying, invisible geometrical grid that is followed to create a surface design. In
this lesson, we will sketch the different types of placements and describe three of
them in some detail.

8.2 Different Types of Placement of Designs

Broadly speaking, there are six different types of placement viz.:

i) Equidistant (Fig. 8. 1)

ii) Half Drop or Brick Repeat (Fig. 8 .2)

iii) All Over (Fig. 8. 3)

Fig. 8.1 Fig. 8.2 Fig. 8.3

 iv) Stripes: vertical/ horizontal/ diagonal (Figs. 8.4a, 8.4b & 8.4c)

Fig. 8.4a Fig. 8.4b Fig. 8.4c

v) Checks: vertical/diagonal (Figs. 8.5a & 8.5b)

Fig. 8.5a Fig. 8.5b

vi) Radial (Fig. 8.6)

Fig. 8.6b

In this lesson the first three types of placements will now be described in
some detail. The remaining three types will be dealt with in the next lesson.

Activity
1. Collect photographs or cloth samples of the six kinds of placements
mentioned above and neatly paste them in your scrapbook.

8.3 Equidistant Placements

Imagine that we have a square grid of 2 inch sides. If we place a floral buti at
its each end point the motif gets placed at equal distances. The placement can be
repeated in the rows below. We will now get a surface of the motifs placed at equal
distances both vertically and horizontally. This is called equidistant placement (Fig.
8.7).

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 In the laboratory you would have an opportunity to examine a range of
surfaces with the placement as described above, from textiles – embroidered,
printed, block designs. You can also show placements from different media –
architecture, ceramics etc.

Fig. 8.7

Thus, when the motifs are placed at equal distances on vertical and horizontal
sides we get an equidistant placement.

8.4 Half Drop or Brick Repeat Layout

To understand this placement, let us draw a square grid, displace the
horizontal rows such that the squares don’t fall exactly under each other but are
placed in the center of the above square. This is exactly how bricks are laid for
construction. Now if motifs are placed in this structure, we will get a Brick Repeat or
Half Drop placement (Fig. 8.8). The drop or the gap between the motifs can vary and
this gives us many variations.

Fig. 8.8
In the practical class you will have an opportunity to examine surfaces with
the placements as described above, from textiles – embroidered, printed, block
designs and from different media – architecture, ceramics etc.

Thus, when a motif is placed at four corners of the square grid and also in its
centers, and this is repeated it gives the Half Drop placement.

8.5 All Over Placement

This particular placement is not directional. The motifs
in such a design are randomly placed, with regular or
irregular spacing, and facing different directions. The pattern
forms an overall surface and hence the name All Over
Placement.
Fig. 8.9
 Now if we take the floral buti and place it in a random order, such that the
butis are pointing in various directions we will get an All Over design (Fig. 8.9)

Activity
2. Draw a square grid and make an equidistant placement design.

3. Draw a square grid in such a way that horizontal squares do not fall exactly
under each other and make a half drop placement design.

4. Take a floral buti and place it a random order so that an all over placement
design is formed.

8.6 Assignments
8.6.1 Class assignments

Draw each of the following designs on half imperial cartridge sheets:

i) A floral buti. You can look at Mughal textiles or Rajasthan block prints for
inspiration.

ii) A monument. You can copy from any photo or illustration. It would be even
better if you could go to a nearby historic monument, palace or old haveli
during the field visit and draw the actual monument. Also note the various
architectural details in the same. Keep a note and sketch out little parts in full
detail.

iii) A geometrical motif with triangles, squares and circles. You can also see
mandala drawings, tantric art, and works of artist Raza.

iv) Take the motifs you have made at i), ii) and iii) above and place them at
Equidistance to create a surface of 12’’x12’’. You can use photocopier to
reduce the size of the monument.

v) Take the motifs you have made in at i), ii) and iii) above and place them in
Half Drop placement and create a surface of 12’’x12’’.

vi) Take the motifs you have made in at i), ii) and iii) above and place them
randomly, facing different directions and create an All Over design surface of
12’’x12’’.

By now, you must have learnt about the three types of placements –
Equidistant, Half Drop and All Over. Though they can be placed in different styles
mentioned earlier, each motif has its own design characteristic due to which only one
placement may be best suited for it.

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8.6.2 Home assignments

i) Take 10 different types of motifs and form patterns using the placements you
have leant in this lesson, i.e., Equidistant, Half Drop and All Over.

8.7 Summing Up
In this lesson, we have learnt that:

• There are six different types of placements, viz. Equidistant, Half Drop or
Brick Repeat, All Over, Stripes (vertical / horizontal / diagonal), Checks
(vertical / diagonal) and Radial.

• When the motifs are placed at equal distances on vertical and horizontal
sides, we get an equidistant placement.

• When a motif is placed at four corners of a square grid and also in its center,
and this is repeated it gives us the Half Drop placement.

• The drop or the gap between motifs can vary and this gives many variations.

• Motifs placed in a random order, all over the surface with irregular spacing
and with no prominent direction give a placement design called All Over
placement.

• Due to the design characteristic of each motif, only one particular placement
will be better suited to one motif.

8.8 Terminal Questions

1. How many types of placements are there? Name them.

2. What is meant by ‘Equidistant Placement’?

3. What is meant by ‘Half Drop or Brick Repeat Layout’?

4. Explain ‘All Over Placement’.

5. Choose the correct answer:

i) When the motifs are placed at equal distances, both vertically and
horizontally, it is called –

a. All Over Placement b. Zig zag Placement

c. Half Drop Placement d. Equidistant Placement

6. Fill in the blanks:

 i) When a motif is placed at four corners of the square grid and also in its
centers, and this is repeated, it gives ________________.

ii) When the motifs are randomly placed with regular or irregular spacing, and
facing different directions, we get ________________.

8.9 References and Suggested Further Reading

1. Betala, R. 2005. Design Comprehension and Visualization. Aan Books, New
Delhi.

2. Yates, M. 1998. Textile: A handbook for designers. W.W. Norton & Co. New
York.

8.10 Glossary
1. Sequence: An order in which related things follow each other.

2. Displace: Move from proper or usual position.

3. Structure: The way a thing is constructed or organized.

4. Variations: A change or slight difference

5. Randomly: Done or happening without an order or planning.

6. Regular: Arranged in an evenly spaced pattern

7. Irregular: Arranged in an unevenly spaced pattern

8. Style: A way of doing something

9. Characteristics: Features

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