BALANCE BY :

CILOS, Shannie B.
GLOVO, Mechelle C.
IBO, Janine Ivy O.
KILATES, Maria Fatima C.
 CONTENTS
Definition of Balance.
How to balance objects.
Formal & Informal Balance.
Objects must be balance around a center.
Balance in pictorial composition.
Formal and informal balance in decorative design.
Balance in exterior design.
How to develop a sense of balance.
Balance in interior design.
Summary

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DEFINITION
OF BALANCE
 BALANCE
> The success of every design depends in a measure on
correct balance;

> and, stated briefly, balance is rest or repose.

> This restful effect is obtained by grouping shapes and

colors around a center in such a way that there will be
equal attractions on each side of that center.

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How to BALANCE
objects?
 How to BALANCE objects?
A. Equal weights or attractions balance each other at the
same distance from the center. This kind of balance in art is
called formal or bisymmetric balance.

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 How to BALANCE objects?
B. Unequal weights or attractions balance each other at different
distances from the center. The stronger the chief attraction is the
nearer it must come toward the center, and the weaker the other the
farther away it will go. If one object is half as big or half as attractive
as the other it will be placed twice as far from the center. This is called
informal or occult balance.

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 How to BALANCE objects?
C. The large object comes toward the foreground, and is balanced by
placing the smaller one in the background. In other words, it gives the
effect of being seen in perspective. This method of balancing is used
especially in pictorial composition, in designing store windows, and
in,arranging stage settings.

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Formal & Informal
BALANCE
 Formal & Informal BALANCE
Two types of arrangement into which balance may be introduced:

1) When the objects are exactly alike and have, therefore, the same
power of attracting the attention.

2) When they differ in size, shape, or color, or, in other words, are
different in their ability to attract attention.

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 Formal & Informal BALANCE

This first kind of balance is known as FORMAL BALANCE,

and it is usually bisymmetrical.
The second is called INFORMAL or OCCULT BALANCE, and
this is unsymmetrical.
Formal balance is much easier to use because it can actually be
measured, while the successful use of informal balance depends upon
training the eye to recognize restful arrangement.

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 Objects must
BALANCE around a
center
 Objects must BALANCE around a center
It will be seen that the center on the space under consideration is
the point around which all attractions must be adjusted.
If objects are of the same size, and alike in appearance, they will
attract the same amount of attention and therefore should be placed
equally distant from the center. This type of balance (the formal) is
quiet, dignified, and impressive, but quite mechanical. On the other
hand, informal balance is more subtle, and affords greater opportunity
for imaginative arrangements.

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BALANCE in pictorial
composition.
 BALANCE in pictorial composition.
Pinturicchio's "Music" is an
illustration of a formal arrangement in
which the figures on either side of the
center line are so nearly alike that they
attract the same amount of attention.
The lights and darks have been
repeated in practically the same relative
positions, and the figures have been
balanced so skillfully that, even though
both sides are not exactly alike, one has
the impression of symmetry.

"Music
" BY PIN
TURICC
HIO.

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 BALANCE in pictorial composition.
A very skilfully balanced group of
objects which are unequal in their power to
attract attention. The large mass of light
consisting of the figure and house is balanced
by the moon and its reflection off in the
distance, and by the jar of flowers on the floor.

Removing or changing any of these

spots destroys the equilibrium of the picture.

Note: Objects placed near the boundaries

attract more attention than those near the
center. “SAINT
GENEV
IEVE WATCH
ING OV
BY PUV ER PAR
JS DE C IS,"
HAVAN
NES.

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Formal & Informal
BALANCE in
Decorative Design
 The earlier art periods produce more formal
expressions than the modern periods, and
numerous examples of bisymmetric balance
are found in their designs.

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1

The use of bisymmetric balance in this house has established a

keynote of reserve. The design has gained distinction through its
simplicity and it’s beautiful proportions.

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 It would be found that everything on one side is
repeated on the other side, and so this house is
"bisymmetric," and it is formally balanced.

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 PALAZZO STROZZI, FLORENCE. Bisymmetric balance seems
especially adapted to the social and political life of the -Florentines
during the Renaissance period.

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2

This house is balanced informally. Note that the large wing,

placed near the center of the house, is balanced by the small wing
placed farther away.

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 is informally balanced, and the architect obtained a
feeling of restfulness by carrying out the principle
illustrated by the large and small boy on the see-saw. The
larger wing, which extends to the center of the house is
balanced by the smaller wing farther out.

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CA D'ORO, VENICE. A suggestion of the gaiety of the life of the
Venetians is expressed in the informally balanced design of this
Gothic palace

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BALANCE in Exterior
Design.
 The architect has to balance doors and windows, porches and
dormers around the central axis of a building just as the painter
arranges his composition on canvas.
Whether he chooses to use formal or informal balance depends
very largely upon the following conditions:
(1) His own personality.
(2) The spirit of the age in which he lives.
(3) The use to which the building is to be put.
(4) The type of people for whom the building is planned.

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HOW TO DEVELOP
A SENSE OF
BALANCE?

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 Formal balance which is symmetrical
One’s sense of good proportion
will prevent the space between
from being the same size as the
objects. Since the forms are exactly
alike they will balance at any
points equally distant from the
center. Because it was desired to
have the effort of a group, the
space between is less than the
width of the objects.

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 Informal balance with unequal attraction
An object which is very
striking or peculiar in shape
or color will the same
power to attract attention as
a larger one which is simple
and inconspicuous; two
such objects then would
balance each other at equal
distances from the center,
even though there is a great
difference in their
appearance. 29
 Formal balance
Formal balance illustrates in which -
everything on one side of the
center has been repeated on the
other side. This kind of balance
gives the greatest amount of
dignity.
Since balance is sure to come if
both sides are alike, the designer
concentrates his efforts upon good
proportion, harmony, rhythmic
movement and emphasis.

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 Informal or occult balance
It shows informal groupings
which is applied the principle of
unequal weights placed at
unequal distances from the
center.
Informal or occult balance is a
result of the careful adjustment
of different shapes and colors on
the both side.

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 Lack of balance
Lack of balance shows the result of
placing too much weight of one
side of the centerline.
The removal of the rhythmic line
in the design helps to destroy the
balance by making the take an
uncomfortable jump towards the
distants group.

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 Combination of two kinds of balance
A combination of formal and informal
balanced has been used in the design.
Objects are placed symmetrically and the
central group is balance in the
asymmetrical or informal way. The
formal is placing of the objects that gives
certain amount of dignity and simplicity
to the scheme, while in the informal, the
objects are little more varied and may
hold the interest longer because it is not
quite so quickly grasped by the mind and

passed over.

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BALANCE in Interior
Design.
 A well balanced wall will have the same amount of
attraction on both sides of its center line.

A well balanced room will have approximately the same

amount of attraction on opposite walls; although the two side walls
may be somewhat heavier than the end walls, there should be the
feeling that the attractions are about equally distributed around the
room.

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 In placing the furnishings of a room, the architectural openings
must be taken into consideration. Very often balance is secured by
having a large piece of furniture on one wall of a room as a balance to
an opening on an opposite wall.
The large pieces of furniture should be placed first, and they
are usually balanced symmetrically.
Arrange the smaller movable objects in the room so that they
will make convenient groups as well as balanced units.
After the furniture has been arranged, the attention is turned to
the balance within each group.

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SUMMARY

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- If arrangements of any kind are to give pleasure and not annoyance
all the shapes and colors used must be placed in such a way that the
effect is restful to the eye. This effect of rest or balance may be
secured by adjusting all the shapes, sizes, and colors in an
arrangement with reference to a centerline.

- Objects which are alike have the same power of attraction, and they
will balance each other at equal distances from the center line. This
type of balance is called bisymmetric, and it is formal.

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- Objects which are unequal in their attraction must be carefully
adjusted with reference to the center line in order to appear
balanced.

- An object with greater, attracting power moved toward the center

will balance a less emphatic one placed farther away. This type of
arrangement is called occult or informal balance.

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Thanks!

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