Balance

1. Controlling Visual Weight Balance

2. Balance in design is the same as balance in real life, like a balance beam. Heavy objects weigh more than light objects – they “tilt” towards the heavy object. If a composition feels out of balance, it makes the viewer uncomfortable. Balance

3. All objects are regions in a composition have a visual weight. Objects of similar weight balance themselves out in a composition. Visual Weight

4. A really dark colored object can be balanced by an equally dark colored object.

5. …or it could be balanced by its opposite – a really light colored object. You just need more of them.

6. There are three main types of balance – symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. MOST compositions fall into one of these categories. Compositional Balance

7. The same on both (or all) sides. Symmetrical Balance

8. Symmetrical means “the same”. Symmetrical balance is achieved by mirror images in a composition across a line of symmetry (think math class). Symmetrical Balance

9. Student Work

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11. Not symmetrical! Asymmetrical balance

12. Asymmetrical balance means NOT symmetrical. Adding an “a” in front means NO. This kind of balance is made by placing objects that are opposites on either side of an image – big and small, full and empty, dark and light, etc. Asymmetrical Balance

13. Student Work

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15. Like radius in math – relates to a circle. Radial Balance

16. Radial is like radius – part of a circle. Think of flowers or the sun to identify radial balance. A really good example of compositions with radial balance are some stained glass windows in churches. Radial Balance

17. Student Work

18. Student Work

19. What happens? Breaking the Rules

20. If balance makes a composition… • comfortable • easy to look at • makes sense • everything goes together well • What does trying NOT to have balance do to a composition? Breaking the Rules…