The rule of thirds is the most well-known composition guideline. It helps draw the viewer’s eye into the image and places more emphasis on the subject. Ideally, the empty space that’s left should be in the direction the subject is looking or heading into. The rule of thirds doesn’t work 100 percent of the time though.

The Rule of Thirds is the process of dividing an image into thirds, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. When you position the most important elements of your image at these intersection points, you produce a much more natural image.

It turns out that its roots can be traced back to the 18th Century. The Rule of Thirds posits that a visual composition is most pleasing to the eye when its compositional elements conform to an imaginary set of lines that divide the frame into equal thirds, both horizontally and vertically.

What Is the Rule of Thirds? The Rule of Thirds is another way to look at the layout of a design (be it a web page, a painting or a photograph). The idea is straightforward; you place a simple grid overlay (divided equally into thirds, both horizontally and vertically) on the space to be used for the design.

A good composition is one where the artist controls the movement of the viewer’s eye to a beneficial result. We can do this by a number of means, such as reinforcing the focal point with the Rule of Thirds, implied lines, contrast of value and selective colour saturation.

The definition of composition is the act of putting something together, or the combination of elements or qualities. An example of a composition is a flower arrangement. An example of a composition is how the flowers and vase are arranged in Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers.