Types of Balance

Symmetrical or Formal balance.

This is mirror image balance. If you draw a line down the centre of your page all the objects on one side are mirrored by the other. They may not be identical objects, but they are similar in terms of numbers of objects, colours and other elements. Of course they could be completely identical and this is often seen in architecture.

Asymmetric or informal balance.

This occurs when a large object on one side is balance by smaller items on the other side. If you think about the balance beam there is more than one option here. The number of small items balancing the larger or smaller items being further away from the centre. In the case of visual balance it could be that one dark item may need balanced by several lighter items.

Although this may appear more casual and less contrived it is usually very much harder to do as the creator must plan the layout much more carefully to maintain the equilibrium.

If an image is out of balance it can create a feeling of tension, as if the image would tip up and objects would slide off the edge in the same way as the balance beam would work.

Unfortunately, a set of scales for measuring the visual balance has not yet been invented. It needs to be viewed.

Within the asymmetrical balance there are a number of balance options.

• By colour
• By value
• By shape
• By position
• By texture
• By eye direction

Radial balance

This type of balance is where all the elements radiate out from a central point in a circular fashion. It is very easy to maintain a focal point since all the elements lead the eye to the central point.