design3

Layout and Composition
15
Balance
In a figurative sense, the concept of visual balance is similar to that of physical balance illustrated
by a seesaw. Just as physical objects have weight, so do the elements of a layout. If the elements on
either side of a layout are of equal weight, they balance one another. There are two main forms of
visual balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
Symmetrical Balance
Figure 1.11. Examples of symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance, or formal balance, occurs when the elements of a composition are the same
on either side of an axis line, as shown in Figure 1.11. The digital painting Contemplation by David
Lanham, shown in Figure 1.12, illustrates this concept well. Notice how the male and female figures
are similar in position and proportion. Even the shaded background boxes are mirror images of one
another.