Rules of Visual Composition By: Jennifer Feck and Debbie Goforth

Table of Contents Principle of Proportion Golden Section/Rectangle Rules of Third Drama Discord

Principle of Proportion 1.Shape is interesting to the eye. 2.Parts are related in shape. 3.Size is not monotonous. 4.Complete arrangement is attractive and effective.

Rules of Third Divide a frame into thirds, horizontally and vertically. Place your main subject where those lines meet.

Rules of Third (cont.) Imagine your frame area divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersections of the imaginary lines suggest four options on how and where you would like that subject to be presented.

Rules of Third (cont.) We picked the upper- right position for this subject so that we could see the full shadow and most of the tracks that lead to the seagull.

Golden Section / Rectangle Golden Rectangle is the most pleasing shape. Ratio of length to width to 1.0. Appears often in nature. Used by humans in both art and design.

Examples of Golden Section/Rectangle

Examples and Websites of : Rules of Third / Golden Rectangle in art, nature and design. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

Drama Anything visual or Auditory that stands out. It keeps the learner engaged and interested.

Discord Disrupts a layout if all does not blend well.

Following the Rules of Visual Composition empowers the learner !

Credits Conover, T. (1985). Graphics Communication Today (3 rd ed.). St. Paul: MN: West Publishing Company. Rules of Third – Retrieved on July 9, 2001 from: Blue Rectangle graphic – Retrieved on July 9, 2001 from: Bird Rectangle graphic – Retrieved July 9, 2001 from: Yellow Girl Rectangle graphic – Retrieved July 9, 2001 from: