By Johnny Xu ’27

See the composition through our eyes, consider where and how to place the subject, and how the photo should be constructed. I’ve always been someone who pays close attention to composition, whether it’s the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, or the use of a central line. These principles help make my images more intriguing, balanced, and diverse.

I experimented with different ways to design the template and learned that using exact measurements makes the final result much more organized. At first, I made the lines very thin, but the laser cutter didn’t engrave or cut them properly, so I realized that thicker lines are necessary. I also tried printing more complex templates, but they turned out to be too chaotic. Instead, I decided to focus on more conventional composition guides, such as the golden ratio and the rule of thirds. My photos place a strong emphasis on composition, which I believe is essential for creating truly masterful images. Strong composition adds depth and a more artistic perspective to the photograph itself.

Procedure:

1. We are going to use a laser cutter that cuts the template on an acrylic sheet.

2. Design the templates in Adobe Illustrator, make sure the sizes are consistent, and the lines have the same thickness.

3. Make sure to make the lines thicker to guarantee success.

4. Save and name your template, make sure the file format is “.ai”. 

5. Acquire a ⅛ acrylic plate, make sure to peel off the paper on it

6. Ask an adult to start the laser cutter and double-check everything before cutting

7. Hit print, and it will come out just like the ones you designed!