In the scope of current presentation design, bright and engaging photos are key to keeping your design exciting and connecting with your audience visually. But in order to leverage photography effectively, whether stock or taken by you, it is important to understand the Rule of Thirds.
The Rule of Thirds is a guideline that is used to compose photos, visual designs, and paintings. The guideline proposes that an image should be split into 9 equal parts by equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines and that the important compositional elements of the visual should be placed along these lines or intersections. Those that stick to this guideline argue that by doing so, you create more tension, energy, and interest in the composition versus simply centering the image.
While this is an important rule to understand in the original composition of images, it is equally important to understand and embrace this rule in the composition of your slide designs. At Ethos3, we love to create slides with bold imagery and engaging content, and one of the ways we do that is by embracing the Rule of Thirds on every slide.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you create your slides based on this rule:
Horizontal Atlas
Splitting your slides along the horizontal atlas should be predominantly reserved for images of humans. When looking at your design from a horizontal perspective, it is important to place any image with eyes along the upper third line. This ensures that your photo is cropped in such a way that it does not engulf the entire layout.
Vertical Atlas
A key reason to embrace the Rule of Thirds in your slide design is the ability to create white space for your content. When splitting your slide along the vertical access, you should always place your primary composition on either outer third. This will ensure plenty of space on the remainder of your slide for words. If you want to look like a new designer, place the primary composition in the middle of the slide.
Both Atlases
Finally, it is important to realize that at times you will need to truly embrace the Rule of Thirds and align the primary composition along both the vertical and horizontal atlas. When opting for this layout, be sure to find a happy medium of the previous two rules. The primary goal is to open up white space on your design. Consider cropping your image in such a way that you can maximize the white space.
The Rule of Thirds is a powerful tool for not just composing photos and original visuals but also for designing engaging and elegant slides. By simply embracing this rule, you turn your design from a simple template into a professional looking design.
Do you want a professional design without all the work? Contact our team today to find out how we can turn your template slides into powerful visuals.
