Symmetrical Balance
Symmetrical balance is a very formal and stable type of balance. It keeps both sides of the vertical axis in almost complete harmony with each other by creating a mirror effect that causes both sides to have almost the exact same elements.
This picture of a butterfly design is a good example of symmetrical balance because the elements on both sides of the vertical axis are almost identical. The picture is very balanced, calming and easy on the eyes due to this type of balance.
Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian man is also an example of symmetrical balance. Though not exactly alike on both sides of the vertical axis, the major elements are balanced which gives the drawing a sense of completion, stability and order.
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical balance is quite the opposite of symmetrical balance. Also known as informal balance, has different elements on either side of the vertical axis but these elements carry equal visual weight. It can also be said that the elements are in contrast with each other.
In this poster, asymmetrical balance is obtained because the elements on both sides of the vertical axis are very different. One side has the statue of liberty and another has just the skyline in the background. However, both sides has equal visual weight. On the left, the statue of liberty is headless which is a very heavy element visually, but on the right, the image shows many buildings on fire and lots of smoke rising from them which balances out the close range visual of the statue of liberty. This is what is meant by different elements giving the same amount of importance to the whole image.
The Van Gogh painting, Starry Night, also utilises asymmetrical balance. The tall dark structure on the left is equally balanced out by a completely different element on the right which is the moon. The contrast of balance can also be seen by the arrangement of the elements. The dark structure starts out very heavy from the bottom but becomes less as it goes up. The bright coloured moon on the other hand, is very strong at the top of the right side, which creates not only a symmetrical balance but a shape and colour contrast as well.
Radial Balance
Radial balance is balance that emancipates from the centre of the image. The elements are arranged in such a way that they are distributed equally along the central point. This creates a very strong focus to the centre and gradually moves outwards to other elements in the image.
The Ying and Yang logo is an example of radial balance. This is because the elements are arranged in so that the focus goes straight to the centre of the image and slowly moving towards the outer parts of the image. The central point is not clearly defined but by it, everything else is defined. No matter which angle you look at it, there is a contrasting element for element which creates the balance.
This movie poster for 127 Hours also utilises radial balance. This is because the main focus of the image is the man and rock in the centre. The whole image is focused on that central position before the viewer moves out to explore other elements in the image. This poster also equally distributes the other elements along the central point and also managed to create some colour contrast in the top and bottom background.
References
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBFbXZy0viLfd55qnJ-ayN9UIalC5NgJTgflhbT4xfFbk69qU0x5K_gMTCxTkJoQzQy_kgi4XFmMQ9vi4IxMjReZ1J5H_A_8NEUSQzF3__q_9PRbeA-Cz5uQ_qlhvYkrHdLn2sqTdzfMf/s1600/10-greatest-movie-posters-ever-made-00-420-75.jpg
http://thebaresquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/the-starry-night-wallpapers_14829_2560x16002.jpg
http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/32387/slick-butterfly-black-art.jpg
http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2012/02/vitruvian-man-leonardo-da-vinci.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ying_Yang.svg
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/uploads/2010/07/127-hours-movie-poster.jpg
