Nice post. I use a different grid grid system in my designs to help with the layout, it helps a lot. So I look forward to trying this one out.
Thanks for sharing
Why invest large sums of money on a website when you are going to use photos taken with a $200 camera? 2 days ago — @3PointRoss
There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to the gold section. I hear everything from "essentially it is the rule of thirds" to people describing it in as a way to make two column layouts. Neither of these are completely accurate however. The golden section is a ratio that creates a rectangle with sub-rectangles in the most visually appealing way. The ratio and golden section has been found in everything from the ratios and proportions of ancient artwork, modern and historic architecture and even can be seen in what we perceive as natural beauty in the human face and body.
To say that the golden rectangle is powerful is an understatement. Powerful and skilled designers can use this ratio to improve their designs dramatically, and what is amazing about it is that people won't be able to directly place their finger on how or why the design is so effective.
The golden rectangle is a rectangle with its sides in the 'Golden Ratio' or 1 : 1.618. Where most people get this wrong with they might account for the ratio to divide a canvas horizontally (ie: into two columns) but they don't account for the fact that the ratio also specifies a height (vertical divisions). Failing to account for the vertical ratios will reduce the impact and effect of using this tool for visually pleasing designs.
To make it easier to use this principal we have created a simple tools that lays out a golden rectangle and it's divisions (on all four corners) that you can overlay onto any of your designs. While it is originally designed for a 960 pixel wide canvas, it was created using vector shapes so it can be easily re-sized to any dimension with out losing any quality.
It also is organized based on folders so you can hide / show any portion of it to best fit your design needs.
I am open to all suggestions, thoughts or improvements. I am releasing this under the creative commons, so if you choose to post it somewhere or repurpose it please do the right thing and at least attribute me with a link (or two).
Download the golden selection PSD guide here and let us know what you think!
Have some feedback? Leave a commentNice post. I use a different grid grid system in my designs to help with the layout, it helps a lot. So I look forward to trying this one out.
Thanks for sharing
I’m really into using grids to design my sites at the moment, of late I have been using the 960 grid layout which has improved my designs 100%. The reason for using grid layouts just helps secure easy navigation and attracts the viewers to all the right places. Making the site uncluttered and everything has its own place and still looking attractive and well designed.
I will give this a go as well, see how it compares to using the 960 grid, I’m sure it will offer me another new way to layout site designs really well.
Do you have any examples of designs in which this was used in?
Thanks for sharing this, wouldn’t of found
I use it in wedding announcement designs. The brides typicly choose the golden over the non (unless they are looking for square).
The golden section is a really interesting and highly applicable bit of maths. I’m sure there are many ways it could be applied to design work, and I look forward to exploring its power. So thanks for the post and I’ll dowload the psd.
on April 24, 2010
thanks for the interesting post!