Focal point can refer to the convergence of light rays or the dominant part of an image, design, or advertisement. It can also describe the main point a writer wishes to focus on in a piece. Creating effective focal points is important in various fields, including art, design, and writing.
You will find many definitions for the term focal point. Some are scientific in nature and some are more about the arts and home design. In science, the term can be defined as the place where light rays converge. It can also be used, as in laser work, to discuss the area a laser is aimed at. For example, if you were to do laser hair removal, each hair follicle would form a focal point.
These more recent definitions derive from the term used in art, mainly in painting and drawing. The focal point in a painting is where the eyes are drawn to. This is often the most dominant or interesting part of an image. While you may examine other details of an image/photograph or other artwork, your eyes will continually bring you back to the main or focal point. The focal point can be used to express something thematically important.
The term can therefore be applied to architecture and design, both interior and exterior. A home or building can have an external focal point, one that catches your eye. Rooms can also have a specific area of interest or include a dominant feature. When you don’t pay attention to the design, you can sometimes inadvertently have unattractive focal points, such as large furniture installations, holes in the walls, places where the paint doesn’t match, and so on.
Advertisers work very hard to create visual focal points in print and television ads, as do people who work in merchandising and store display. If you’ve ever watched the TV show, America’s Next Top Model, or others like it, you know that models often get busted when they don’t do enough to showcase the items that might be featured in an advertisement. In a commercial for Cover Girl®: Foundation, for example, a contestant grabbed a large cocktail as she entered a party scene, thus drawing attention away from her makeup. Drink instead of makeup has become an undesirable focal point. The focus in an advertisement tries to be on the product and try not to distract from the main thing being advertised by creating conflicting messages.
You can also apply the term focal point to describe the points or a main point a writer wishes to focus on in a piece. When the writing is good, the actual point or points that the writer wishes to bring out well and become the dominant themes. “Having a point” in writing is synonymous with creating focal points, which will be remembered by the reader.
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