COMPOSITIONAL THEORIES

COMPOSITION: An orderly arrangement of elements using the principles of design. Some

theories or rules that are followed in design, art and photography are:

 Create a focal point.

 ‘Rule’ of Thirds
 Rule of Odds
 Leading Lines
 Balance
 Grids to align your elements
 White Space

Create a focal point:

One of the most apparent marks of an effective design is the way it draws your gaze to a central
focal point. Just like with any other form of communication, every design must have a core
message and a clear goal. This can’t be achieved, however, if the viewer doesn’t know where to
look first because there is no one thing that stands out. Focal point can be achieved by using any
of the following:

Size, Color, Shape, Depth, Value.

The Golden Ratio/ ‘Rule’ of Thirds:

The masters through the ages understood balance. In fact, to them it was geometric and called
“The Golden Ratio” which formed a “Golden Spiral.” Because the Golden Ratio involves some
complex math, it has, over time, been simplified to the Rule of Thirds. There’s the very
important rule of thirds, which you can follow by simply dividing your canvas area into thirds,
both horizontally and vertically, as seen above. According to this simple principle, your focal
points should lie at the intersections of these lines.

Although not a principle that must be followed for each and every design, the rule of thirds is
helpful for creating dynamic designs that are not completely centered and symmetrical.

Rule of Odds
Having an odd number of things in a composition means your eye and brain can’t pair them up
or group them easily. There’s somehow always one thing left over, which keeps your eyes
moving across the composition.

Leading Lines
Lines can enhance composition and lead the eye through the design. Different lines express
different feelings.

 Horizontal lines are calm,

 Vertical lines are strong and
 Diagonal lines are dynamic.
 Diagonal lines are maybe the most interesting of straight lines. They create a sense of
energy and motion into the photo.
 One of the most common and graceful lines used in composition is called the S curve.

Either implied by the natural shape of objects (such as the woman’s arm reaching out, Lines in a
photo can be for example roads, rivers, a shore line and a horizon.) or explicit through the use of
actual lines, leading lines are used to direct readers’ eyes to other elements on a page.

Balance:
A sense of balance often enhances the composition. Good balance is simply the arrangement of
shapes, colors, or areas of light and dark that complement one another so that the photograph
looks well-balanced.
Good-looking websites place graphic elements so that the two sides of each page feel evenly
balanced. This doesn't mean that you have to make the right and left into mirror images, only that
the images placed on opposite sides should draw the eye equally, A page has symmetrical
balance when the elements on either side look similar.

Use grids to align your elements:

One way to ensure that your design doesn’t look disorganized and unprofessional is to use grids
to align your elements. Look at how these two posters use the same grid layout to properly place
elements in a harmonious and visually appealing manner. Since the layout has already been
predetermined, it makes the work of composing your design a whole lot easier.

White Space

"White space" is to any area on the page that isn't covered by text or graphics, even if the area
isn't colored white. Placing text or graphics everywhere on a page is a mistake: Negative space
(or white space) is just as important to your design as the positive elements. It has many
functions within a visual: It lets the readers’ eyes rest; it gives room for visual pathways that the
eye can follow; it draws attention to the main elements of your design; and it makes your design
look clean, sophisticated and efficient.