Silotetting

Silotetting is a graphic design and visual art technique in which an image is built from a series of layered silhouettes of the same subject. The term blends silhouette with silo, reflecting the characteristic arrangement of the layers into stacked, compartment-like units or columns. In silotetting, each silhouette may be scaled, recolored, or opacity-shifted relative to the others, producing a modular, high-contrast composition that emphasizes form over detail.

Techniques and workflow: artists often start with a reference image, create a clean silhouette, and then generate a sequence of variations by scaling, applying color ramps, and adjusting opacity. Digital tools such as vector tracing in Illustrator or path-based selection in Photoshop are common. The final piece tends to feature flat shapes, a limited color palette (often 2–5 hues), and generous negative space.

Applications: silotetting has found use in poster design, album and book covers, branding, and motion graphics, where the stacked silhouette motif can convey movement, depth, or identity while remaining legible at a glance. The style complements minimalist aesthetics and can be adapted to both print and digital media.

History and reception: silotetting emerged within contemporary design circles as a self-identified technique, rather than as a formal movement. Critics note its strong visual impact but caution against overuse, which can reduce subject nuance. It is commonly compared with silhouette art and color-block poster styles.

See also: silhouette art, posterization, color blocking.