Elements of game design, part six: visual composition

Visual composition is an important aspect within visual design is composition. Good composition is always pre-determined and very rarely stumbled upon. Composition is simply how you arrange the elements in an image. It’s a form of organization. There are a range of techniques that you can utilize to successfully achieve an aesthetically appealing piece. The artist chose the main vocal point and organizes other elements around this. In doing this several principles are taken into consideration, these are known as the principles of organization. They consist of: 
• Shape and proportion 
• Positioning/Orientation/Balance 
• The area within the field of view used for the picture ("cropping") 
• The path or direction followed by the viewer's eye when they observe the image. 
• Negative space 
• Color 
• Contrast: the value, or degree of lightness and darkness, used within the picture. 
• Geometry: for example, use of the golden mean 
• Lines 
• Rhythm 
• Illumination or lighting 
• Repetition (Sometimes building into pattern; rhythm also comes into play, as does geometry) 
• Perspective A technique that I find beneficial is the effective use of viewpoint. This can determine the subject’s dominance, equality or vulnerability. For example if you were drawing a picture of a super hero, the piece would have much more of an impact if you positioned the viewpoint looking up at the character because it would suggest and emphasise this superior power that this character has. 

There are also specific compositional techniques that can be combined to improve the aesthetics of your work. The rule of thirds 
The rule of thirds is a simple guide. The aim is to stop the subject and areas of interest clashing in the piece, by placing them near one of the lines that would divide the image into three equal columns and rows, ideally near the intersection of those lines. 

The Golden Mean The golden mean is a ratio that has been used by visual artists for centuries as an aid to composition. When two things are in the proportion of 1:1.618 (approximately 3/8 to 5/8), they are said to be in the golden mean. 

Focus A technique that I find best works digitally, is limiting the focus of an image. This basically emphasises the focus of the piece and makes everything else vaguer. I achieve this in Photoshop using blur filters or in photography with a wider aperture. 
Rule of odds 
One of the simplest ways to make a composition more dynamic is to have an odd number of subjects in the composition. This is the rule of odds. An even number of subjects produces symmetries in the image, which can appear less natural. 

Intelligent organization of elements in any concept can really make the difference. This is why it is important to produce a wide range of thumbnails in preparation to a final piece. The thumbnails make a good elimination process into what works the best. You can also take small aspects from different thumbnails and combine them with the principles outlined above in mind. Having good knowledge and a solid grasp of composition will strengthen your technical skills, transitioning your work from sketches and doodles to industry standard final pieces.