Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition
by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler
160 Rule of Thirds
A technique of composition in which a medium is divided into thirds.
The rule of thirds is a technique derived from the use of early grid systems in composition. It is applied by dividing a medium into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, creating an invisible grid of nine rectangles and four intersections. The primary element within a design is then positioned on an intersection of the grid.1
The rule of thirds has a loyal following in art circles, likely due to its use by the Renaissance masters and its rough relationship to the golden ratio. Although dividing a design into thirds yields a ratio different from the golden ratio (i.e., the 2/3 section = 0.666 versus golden ratio = 0.618), the users of the technique may ...
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