Balance is the feeling of equilibrium in weight, distribution, attraction, and/or attention of various positive and negative visual elements within a work of art. There are three main types of balance: radial, symmetrical, and asymmetrical.
Radial balance is the sensation of equilibrium created by establishing a central point or zone within a composition from which all elements radiate.
Symmetrical balance is the sensation of equilibrium created by placing identical compositional units in mirror-like repetition on either side of a central axis. Approximate symmetry is a term that refers to a type of balance in which similar, but not identical compositional units are placed on either side of a central axis.
Asymmetrical balance is the sensation of equilibrium created by placing visual elements in different positions within the picture frame without repeating the placement of these elements with respect to a central axis.
Last modified May 17, 2001