The word proportion
comes from the Latin word proportionem,
meaning comparative relation. Proportion is the
relationship in size and scale between elements
in a design, or between a whole object and one
of its parts.
Proportion can be
used to establish visual weight and balance. For
instance a cluster of small objects can be
balanced by a large object, as we discussed last
month. Proportion can help define depth, as we
can see on the layout “A Little Vignette” by
Leigh Bossinger. The smaller elements seem to
recede into the background while the larger
elements come to the front.
On the layout
“Beautiful Day” by Mars Olson, we can see how
proportion can draw the eye to specific areas on
the page; the smaller girl in the background
seems to be walking towards the main photo. The
viewer’s eyes follow the girl to have a closer
look at the focal point as well.
A realistic
composition - where all the proportions are in
harmony - creates a feeling of balance, whereas
unrealistic proportions create a feeling of
emphasis on the object that’s out of proportion.
A well known surrealist was Salvador Dalí who
used proportion to create surreal images and
shock his viewers into noticing his work. A
perfect example of using the same principle is
Jorinde van Dongen’s layout “Be Original”.
Whether you create a realistic or surrealistic
scrapbook page, proportion defines visual weight
and depth, and it can create a sense of tension
that focuses the eyes of the viewer.
