Elements of Design

There are two kinds of space, and both play important roles in visual compositions.

Positive space: In an image, the positive space represents the subject matter. The original image is the bowl of cherries. Positive spaces are the solid forms in a design, as shown in the green area below.	Negative space: In an image, the negative space (also called white space) is the area around the positive shape. The original image is the bowl of cherries. The negative space shown below is the yellow area around the bowl of cherries.

The presence of space on a picture plane affects how we interpret a visual composition.

Picture plane: The flat surface where the image will be displayed (such as computer monitor, drawing paper, canvas, TV) is the picture plane.	Composition: The organization and placement of the elements on a picture plane is the composition. These four elements are compiled to make the "SPACE" composition below.