Golden Ratio Grid Overlay
Draw golden ratio lines at 38.2% and 61.8%, a golden spiral, diagonals or golden triangles over an image, read the positions in pixels and save a PNG. How it works
Use the Golden Ratio Grid Overlay
About the Golden Ratio Grid Overlay
Golden ratio lines sit at 38.2% and 61.8% of each side, because 1 ÷ φ ≈ 0.618 where φ = (1 + √5) ÷ 2 ≈ 1.618: on a 1920 x 1080 image that is x = 733 and 1,187 px and y = 413 and 667 px. The Golden Ratio Grid Overlay draws those lines, fainter rule-of-thirds lines, a golden spiral and, if you choose, diagonals or golden triangles over your image and gives the positions in pixels.
Golden lines and thirds on common image sizes (pixels from the left and top)
| Image | Worked at | Golden x | Golden y | Thirds x | Thirds y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 733, 1,187 | 413, 667 | 640, 1,280 | 360, 720 |
| 1080 x 1080 | 1080 x 1080 | 413, 667 | 413, 667 | 360, 720 | 360, 720 |
| 1080 x 1350 | 1080 x 1350 | 413, 667 | 516, 834 | 360, 720 | 450, 900 |
| 1080 x 1920 | 1080 x 1920 | 413, 667 | 733, 1,187 | 360, 720 | 640, 1,280 |
| 1200 x 800 | 1200 x 800 | 458, 742 | 306, 494 | 400, 800 | 267, 533 |
| 1600 x 1200 | 1600 x 1200 | 611, 989 | 458, 742 | 533, 1,067 | 400, 800 |
| 4000 x 3000 | 2000 x 1500 | 764, 1,236 | 573, 927 | 667, 1,333 | 500, 1,000 |
| 6000 x 4000 | 2000 x 1333 | 764, 1,236 | 509, 824 | 667, 1,333 | 444, 889 |
Pictures over 2000 px on the long side are worked on, and downloaded, at 2000 px, so their positions are on that copy. The readout under the image gives the same numbers.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between the phi grid and the rule of thirds?
- The phi grid puts its lines at 38.2% and 61.8% of each side, the rule of thirds at 33.3% and 66.7%, so the golden lines sit closer to the center. On a 1920 px wide image that is x = 733 against 640 and x = 1,187 against 1,280.
- Where are the golden ratio lines on a 1080 x 1350 portrait?
- At x = 413 and 667 px and y = 516 and 834 px. Because the image is taller than it is wide, the spiral is turned a quarter turn to run top to bottom unless you choose Left to right.
- Why does the golden spiral look stretched?
- With Fill the image (the default) the spiral's 1.618 x 1 frame is stretched to the whole picture, so its first arc ends on a golden line; on any picture that is not exactly 1.618:1 the arcs become ellipses. Choose Circular arcs, centred to keep them round; the spiral is then centred and no longer lines up with the grid.
- Where does the subject go on a golden spiral?
- The usual way to use it is to put the subject where the spiral winds in tight and let the wide sweep follow a road, an arm or a shoreline. With Fill the image, that point is about 72% across and 72% down the frame: x = 1,389 and y = 781 px on a 1920 x 1080 picture, in the lower right. Spiral Flip moves it: Horizontal to the lower left, Vertical to the upper right, Both to the upper left. A portrait picture, where the spiral runs top to bottom, starts with it in the lower left.
- What are the golden triangles?
- A guide also called the rule of diagonals: one corner-to-corner diagonal, plus a line from each of the other two corners that meets it at a right angle. The frame is cut into three triangles of the same shape. On a 1920 x 1080 picture, From the top left puts the meeting points at x = 1,459, y = 820 and x = 461, y = 260 px. From the bottom left mirrors it top to bottom.
- Is the downloaded image full size?
- Only up to 2000 px on the long side. Larger pictures are worked on at 2000 px, so a 6000 x 4000 photo downloads as a 2000 x 1333 PNG with the overlay drawn in. Overlay Only (transparent PNG) saves the lines alone at the same size, with nothing under them. The image is read in your browser and is not uploaded.
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