Design Principle Dominance

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The placement of a dominant element is critical to the balance of a painting or design. A dominant element in the center (horizontally or vertically) creates symmetry, producing a formal, static design.

A dominant element close to the edge creates an out of balance tension. There is no right or wrong position for a dominant element, but the different tensions created by it should be understood and used to advantage.

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Without a dominating size, the arrangement of elements in this photograph is not as interesting as it could be. The eye has a confusing path to follow around the photograph.

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