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Understanding Positive and Negative Space

Space can be described as the area between design elements. Positive space refers to the subject or area of interest, while negative space is the area around the subject. Positive and negative space must be balanced - too much of one can make a design feel cluttered. Examples of using space well include incorporating mostly negative space or balancing positive and negative shapes. Paying attention to negative space around the positive subject helps communicate design intent.

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342 views15 pages

Understanding Positive and Negative Space

Space can be described as the area between design elements. Positive space refers to the subject or area of interest, while negative space is the area around the subject. Positive and negative space must be balanced - too much of one can make a design feel cluttered. Examples of using space well include incorporating mostly negative space or balancing positive and negative shapes. Paying attention to negative space around the positive subject helps communicate design intent.

Uploaded by

sumayya shaik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SPACE

By
Vandana
Asst. Professor
SPACE
• Space can be described as the distance around
and/or the area between design objects or
elements. As an example, if you were to place
an image on a page, the area that does not
contain the image would constitute space.
Furthermore, this can be called white space (if
placed on a white page) or negative space.
• Simply put, positive space is best described as
the areas in a work of art that are the
subjects, or areas of interest. Negative space is
area around the subjects, or areas of interest.
If you are seeing a vase, then you are seeing the white area as the positive
space. The black areas become the negative space. If you are seeing faces,
then you are seeing the black areas as the positive space, and the white area
as the negative space.
Examples of uses of positive and negative
space...
• Balance of Positive and Negative space
• Mostly negative space.
• Mostly Positive Space
Positive and Negative Shapes
• Positive shapes are the enclosed areas that
represent the initial selection of shapes planned by
the artist. They may suggest recognizable objects or
merely be planned non-representational shapes. 
• Negative shapes are unoccupied or empty space
left after the positive shapes have been laid down
by the artist; however, because these areas have
boundaries, they also function as shapes in the total
pictorial structure.
• Positive Space Definition
• What is positive space? This is one people
tend to pay the most attention to. Positive
space refers to the area that is the subject of
your design. In order to make the positive
space communicate your design intent, you
need to pay close attention to how you use
negative space around it. 
• Negative Space Definition 
• So what is negative space? This refers to the
areas surrounding the subject of your design.
Most people tend to focus on the subjects and
details of the piece while completely ignoring
the empty (negative) space around them. This is
a common rookie mistake that leaves designs
feeling cluttered and messy. Negative space is
an important factor that often gets overlooked. 

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