The way our eyes separate a subject (the figure) from its background (the ground), and how a designer makes clear which is which.
Synonyms
- figure and ground
- positive and negative space
Related terms
In plain words
- telling the subject apart from the background
- what pops forward versus what sits behind
Usage example
Strong figure-ground contrast made the white logo leap off the dark banner.
Don't confuse with…
- contrastContrast is any visual difference between elements; figure-ground specifically is the perceived split between a subject and its background.
Categories
- Layout & composition