Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Seeing Form and Space
Categories of Form
Putting Stuff Into Space
Compositional Strategies
A Foundation for Meaning
THE BREAK BETWEEN
the photograph and colored field at the right defines the right-hand third,
but the first two thirds are a square, indicating that the Golden Section might be playing a role in
defining the proportions.
AdamsMorioka
United States
The Law of Thirds
A simplified mathematical approach divides any format into thirds—left to
right and top to bottom—under the assumption that the intersection of these axes will be points
of focus by the brain. As a format's horizontal and vertical measurements become more exagger-
ated relative to each other, the thirds that are produced become more exaggerated themselves but
still present an overall proportional unity that a designer can use to map out major compositional
arrangements. While dividing a format into thirds presents an intrinsically symmetrical relation-
ship between the three spaces that are defined, the two axes that define these equal intervals also
provide a very asymmetrical proportional system of one-third relative to two-thirds.
