Rule of Thirds — what is it? It is a type of off-center composition where important elements of a design are placed along a 3×3 grid. The grid equally divides the composition into nine parts. The rule is a tool for beginners and those who struggle with composing their designs.
Value of the Rule of Thirds
The usefulness of this rule is to remind yourself that off-center compositions can work well and be successful. We often place the focal image of our design in the dead center by default. Using central composition for every card can be boring. If you find that you are doing this, you can add more interest and variety by using the rule of thirds.
Sage Kimble, The Mad Stamper, produced this informative video explaining this composition guide. She also instructs us on how to make a grid for our use.
The rule of thirds is certainly worth exploring, especially if you’re just starting to learn composition in card design. However, good composition is not about sticking to strict rules, but rather about composing each card for its own merits. Any type of composition can be beautiful.
Do you use the rule of thirds? Will you give an off-center composition a try?
