This indicates the relative visual size and weight of particular graphical elements in a design composition.
Proportion in art is the ratio between two or more elements in a composition, mostly with respect to size. This ratio is said to be harmonious when a correct or desirable ratio creates good proportion.
When the principle of proportion is applied to a composition it is usually to the relationship of size:
Proportion is usually not even noticed until something is out of proportion. When the relative size of two elements being compared seems wrong, or out of balance, it is said to be "out of proportion". For example, if a person has a head larger than their entire body, then we would say that they were out of proportion.
In the "Bad Proportion" examples on the right of the illustration above, the top row, which uses equal division of the shapes, creates monotony, and in the bottom row, the very unequal division creates a lack of harmony.
There are times when proportion is exaggerated to convey a message (see the examples below.) It is impossible to hold the world in your hand yet this composition does exactly that. White out can be used to cover all sorts of things but it is unlikely you would paint crossÂwalks with it.
When it comes to photography and cinematography, keep in mind that the distance and angle of the camera shot can also play with our sense of proportion, making what's on screen seem much larger (making the viewer feel small and intimidated by the object/character's size and power) or much smaller (making the viewer feel larger, more powerful, or perhaps smarter and more morally upright than the object or character).
Take the Proportion Quiz to test your knowledge. You will receive an email with your results. You may take the quiz as many times as you wish.