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So, my point isn’t that it can’t work, that we won’t find great images that seem to fit (even though often it fits more like ‘close’ in horseshoes than reality) but they aren’t great because the fit the rule. They are great because they effectively managed the given visual problem and message–the same reason many image don’t apply any of the popular rules and are incredible image. Your notifications pop up in my desktop at work and I save to read later or at lunch time, like today.
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As a rule of thumb (we’re covering a lot of rules, aren’t we?), aim to place the most critical content on the top third on any page. Think of the intersections and the sweet spots — where all vital content should appear. But web design isn’t always straightforward, with many pages offering tons more as you scroll down. Now that you have your first element, we want to align it to one of the four sweet spots of the grid. The sweet spots are the four intersections you'll see after drawing the grid.
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Using the rule of thirds to create visual interest

This Wix website template places important elements like the hero Image, titles or CTAs (calls to action) along the horizontal grid lines. Due to the responsive nature of UIs, such placement will work best on only some screen sizes. One of the easiest ways to use the rule of thirds in photography is by aligning the landscape to one of the divider lines of the frame. Instead of trying to center the horizon line, give preference to a focal points—either the sky or the landscape—and helping the audience focus on one first. And many of the above examples rely on images that have a composition with space to apply text and other designed elements.
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The Masterful Photo Compositions of Henri Cartier-Bresson - PetaPixel
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The rule of thirds draws two lines perpendicular to a page, and two lines horizontal to a page, to create a grid of nine boxes. Here, we'll learn how to use the rule of thirds in design and UI design to take your images to the next level. When working with both text and images, use the Rule of Thirds to establish visual harmony. For example, you could align a headline with a horizontal line, while a supporting image or graphic sits on the opposite third line. This balance means neither element overshadows the other, which makes for a much better overall look and feel. The rule should not be implemented in cases where we want the element to be in the center of the picture.
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The rest of the screen is filled with the background of a vehicle interior and sky. But it's a great way to adhere to a simple guideline while giving your design some structure. Many designers use the rule of thirds in web design, print design, YouTube thumbnails, slide deck design, and much more. In both the top and bottom quadrants of the rule of thirds grid, Paul Atreides is shown as the largest (in scale) subject of the cover, and the smallest. He is at opposing ends vertically and uses in just the center column. Another unique way to use the rule of thirds is to use opposing quadrants to draw your eye in intentionally.

Use the Grid as a Guide to Structure Your Design
If the subject occupies most of the frame, there’s only one thing to focus on. This tactic is effective when you want to capture objects with irregular shapes; for example, paths, roads, and rivers. Instead of placing the central element in a left-to-right direction, you can position it diagonally.
The Golden ratio is a geometric ratio that ensures beautiful proportionality wherever it is applied. But again, you can only gain this kind of creative freedom if you understand how the grid works and how the audience responds to it. You basically have to use the rule of thirds in order to work against it—you can’t just create some sort of chaotic layout and expect it to be interesting. Photography is one of the areas of design where you really want to pay attention to the rule of thirds.
The Rule of Thirds in Design — A Comprehensive Guide for Designers
One thing I have learned, especially in the forum world, and when I was teaching, in a lot of cases, when someone learns a rule like RoTs then they tend to only make photographs that fit into that rule. Also they then dismiss great photographs that don’t fall into the preconceived ideas that these rules create. I have seen this a lot in comments and critiques especially the ones that are on line. Quoting past photogs who were solid in some ways, but meh in others relative to the whole of photography over time is mostly useless since the quotes are completely out of context.
Applying any rule doesn’t make a better photograph, making the best photograph regardless of where we place an object/subject is the goal. The whole idea of the rule of thirds is that it introduces beginners to off-center composition. However, it might lead you to think that your subjects always (or often) need to be placed along the exact lines and intersections of the 3×3 grid in order to capture a successful composition. To use the rule of thirds, start by imagining a 3×3 grid and place your subjects along those lines and intersections points. When you evaluate the result, you may find that you like it more than with your subject in the center. Once you’ve mastered the basics, explore other techniques like leading lines, negative space, and foreground framing to further enhance your photographs.
The rule of thirds is a composition technique that guides you to place your subject on the left or right, leaving more room for the other objects. Although there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds helps get the most well-composed shots. With the rule of thirds, designers can quickly implement grids that include aspects of the Phi Grid without being overly complicated. Designers don’t even need a calculator or be insanely good at math. With this simplistic version, designers can incorporate the principles of divine proportion without entirely using it.
If you want to call out key information in an event flyer, make sure the most important bits fall on (or close to) those intersections. Conversely, elements like doors, pillars, waterfalls, and people in standing positions look better when you align them with the vertical grid lines. At the same time, you can emphasize the scene's interesting elements more.
For landscapes, try to align the horizon with one of the two horizontal lines near the center of the grid – preferably the top one if the land is more visually interesting than the sky. While the Rule of Thirds is a powerful tool for beautiful, functional designs, the ultimate judge of effectiveness is the end-user. Regularly gather feedback, employ A/B testing, or use heatmaps to understand how users interact with your design. If certain elements aren’t performing as expected, don’t hesitate to iterate, even if that means scrapping the Rule of Thirds for something else. The Phi Grid provides a more nuanced grid structure for compositions, particularly beneficial when you’re aiming for a slightly off-centred yet harmoniously balanced design. The Rule of Thirds isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting a harmonious balance.
Bottom line, there are clear principles of design that come into play in strong visual communication. What parts a person masters has a direct correlation to the strength of their images, relative to people understanding what the image is about, without caption or explanation. Of course, the problem is still that we don’t control where all of our objects in a photograph exist. Do we Emphasize our subject, is our image Balanced, does the image have a sense of Unity etc.
Rule of thirds has been helping designers for over 100 years and it continues to do so. Web design is all about attracting the audience, narrating your story, and making a point with your statement while keeping the overall layout cluster-free. The most common instance of the golden ratio that we know is of the pyramids of Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, and many gothic cathedrals and churches. The same goes for the Golden Gate Bridge shot from afar, anchored to the lower right quadrant, drawing all of its focus at first.
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