Following the Rule of Thirds ......................................................................
Like any good painting or photograph, your Web pages benefit from having a
focal point— an object that represents the main topic or most prominent
visual element. This can be a photo, a sketch, or whatever is the first thing
the viewer notices. It stands out from the rest of the page. Perhaps it’s as
simple as an unusual shape — something that doesn’t match the other
shapes on the page, as in Figure 8-11:
Figure 8-11 is an improvement over Figure 8-3, but invoking the rule of thirds
strengthens the composition even more. Draw imaginary lines dividing your
Web page into thirds both vertically and horizontally, as shown in Figure 8-12.
Where the lines intersect is the best location for your focal point.
Figure 8-12:
Divide your
Web page
into nine
imaginary
zones.
Figure 8-11:
The rest of
this page is
composed of
rectangles,
but this new
shape
provides a
focus.
164 Part III: Adding Artistry: Design and Composition with CSS
