Rule of thirds grid generator

What the rule of thirds is

The rule of thirds divides the frame with two evenly spaced vertical lines and two horizontal lines. Putting the main subject along one of those lines, or on a point where two lines cross, usually looks more balanced than placing it dead centre. It is a guideline rather than a rule, and it gives the viewer a clear place to look.

Photographers use it to set a horizon on the top or bottom third instead of the middle, and to place a face or focal point on an intersection. Designers use the same grid to position a headline or a button where people tend to look first.

Check your own photo

Add a photo and the 3 by 3 grid appears over it. Look at where the subject falls. If it sits in the centre and the shot feels flat, you can see how far it would need to move to land on a third. Horizons are the easiest fix, since moving one off the centre line usually helps right away.

The download includes the grid, so you can open it in another editor and crop with the lines as a guide, or keep it as a reference while you reshoot. You can change the line colour and opacity so the grid stays visible on a busy image or a plain one.

Other grids you can make

Thirds is the most common composition grid, but not the only one. Turn off the fixed 3 by 3 layout and you can set any number of columns and rows for a finer alignment grid. For copying a drawing rather than planning a shot, a denser grid is more useful, which is what the grid method drawing tool sets up.

Everything is drawn in your browser, so you can check private or client photos without uploading them.