Plate II — Symmetry

Structural intent

Establish balance through mirroring around a centerline. Symmetry is treated as a geometric constraint that improves legibility and reduces ambiguity.

What must be observable

• A clear centerline (vertical or horizontal) that partitions the frame.
• Corresponding features on both sides with comparable scale and spacing.
• Equal visual weight (not necessarily identical texture, but comparable mass).
• Center alignment of the viewer perspective.

Common failure modes

• Near-symmetry with off-center camera placement (drifts into “almost”).
• Symmetry broken by lighting imbalance or dominant object on one side.
• Symmetry replaced by repetition without a centerline.
• Confusing symmetry with radial arrangements that lack mirroring.

UI / system translation (non-symbolic)

• Use for “selection/confirmation” pages where neutrality matters.
• In UI: paired controls, mirrored columns, symmetric margins and spacing.
• In system terms: define invariants (left-right equivalence) before deviations.
• QA: enforce center alignment tolerance; reject scenes where the mirror breaks.