6 Key Techniques to Help You Master Visual Composition
Today you are going to learn 6 different techniques you can use in order to make your visual composition stronger. These visual composition techniques for beginners will assist you in creating a strong composition for photography, digital art, drawing, or painting.
Video Transcript
I’ve always been a really creative person. Ever since I was a kid, I was always writing, painting, drawing, and just creating something. But one of the challenges that I faced when starting to learn digital design and photography was trying to utilize proper composition in order to have that strong visual impact I was looking for. I’m positive that I’m not alone in that. That’s why I’ve put together this list of 6 key techniques for visual composition that anyone can use to help get you well on your way to mastery.
Did you know that it is possible to have all of the most graphically appealing elements in the world, but if they weren’t composed properly in your final image it could totally fall flat visually? Needless to say, composition is kind of important AND it is something that almost everyone struggles with at some point or another in their creative journey.
COMPOSITION
So what is this composition thing that everyone is talking about? That really is the golden question, isn’t it? Comment below and tell me what you think composition is all about.
In simple terms, composition is where separate elements come together to form a cohesive whole. What I mean by that, is all of your images and graphics, colours, and fonts come together to form one complete design.
If it’s been done successfully, then everything has been arranged, distributed, aligned, and compiled in a way that not only looks really good, but it is also highly functional and effective.
So how can we make sure we are creating a successful composition consistently? I am glad you asked because I have 6 KEY TECHNIQUES for visual composition for helping you with just that.
Tip #1: FOCUS
A key part of any well-done composition is having a strong focal point. This is because, no matter what it is you’re designing, you are telling a visual story. As a result, having a strong focal point helps your viewers’ eye to naturally settle on important pieces of your design so that your story gets told in the most effective way possible.
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Example 1
In this photo you can see that the photographer has used the largest droplet of water as the main focal point. There are other droplets on this same leaf, but you will notice that they are more in shadows and blurred more than the main droplet. In this instance, the photographer has used the focal point in an effective way to draw the viewers' eye into the photo.
Tip #2: BALANCE
When we have multiple elements as part of our design, it’s important to make sure there is some balance between them.
There are two main types of balance. First, there is symmetrical balance, which simply means you are balancing your design using symmetry. . . Think reflections. . . And then second, there is asymmetrical balance. This is probably the more common of the two and it is where we create balance without symmetry.
Example 2
This image is a perfect example of symmetrical balance. You'll notice how the photographer has utilized the reflection in the water to create this symmetry. Additionally, the photo is quite balanced as you look from left to right. Equal weighting has been place on both the left and right side of the image.
Example 3
The photographer for this image has done a wonderful job of creating a photo that is asymmetrical in its balance. You'll notice that it is quite different than the image above where mirror images and weights were used to balance. With asymmetrical balance there are stronger weights in certain areas, for example the large rock in the lower left-hand corner.
Tip #3: COMPLEMENTARY ELEMENTS
I’m sure you’ve heard of complementary colours before, but what are complementary elements you ask? Well, the idea is that you’re choosing elements to use in your design purposefully so that they look good together as a whole.
For example, you can:
- Use photos from the same photoshoot
- Use the same photo filter on all your photos
- Pair fonts with your imagery so they complement each other (sophisticated, vintage, etc.)
Example 4
Notice how all of these images work together in a very cohesive way. They have a similar feel and tone about them that allow them to function very well together in a complementary way.
Tip #4: REPETITION
Always try to tie your design together by using repeated elements. It helps to maintain consistency throughout your design as well as provides a strong and cohesive feel.
Example 5
Magazine are a wonderful example of using repeating elements effectively in design. Notice how in the example picture the layout incorporates similar colours, shapes, and tones throughout. No matter what page you're on, you know what magazine you're reading because of how the similar elements tie together.
Tip #5: WHITE SPACE
Don’t feel like you need to fill up every single corner of a design. Strategically using white space can help with clarity in your design and help to balance it out with more complicated or busy parts.
We can implement white space into our designs by:
- scaling down graphic elements and creating white space around focal points
- not filling up every space with content. . . empty spaces matter too
- ask yourself: is this element 100% necessary?
Example 6
What this image aims to do is draw your attention to the story it is trying to tell. It does it quite effectively too. Notice that there are very few elements that have been used in this image and yet it still speaks volumes. It is not necessary to fill up all the design space with content. White space can be just as powerful a design element as any other.
Tip #6: RULE OF THIRDS
The rule of thirds is a technique where a design is broken up into a 3 x 3 grid. Where the lines intersect are where you focal points should be. This technique is awesome for making sure you have a reliable guide to positioning your elements.
Example 7
Make sure that you place the focal points of your image where the lines intersect in the 3 x 3 grid. This helps to produce the most powerful images possible.
Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of techniques for visual composition, but utilizing these six key tips will help you as you work towards increasing the effectiveness and strength of your design.
Thank you so much for sticking around until the end. I’ve got an awesome bonus for you today as a reward. 🙂 I have created an infographic with these 6 key techniques for visual composition PLUS a bonus FOUR MORE, for a total of TEN techniques you can use to up your visual composition game. You can grab it by signing up below:
