Which type of balance is achieved when both sides of a composition are identical?

Symmetrical balance is achieved when both sides of a composition are identical or mirror each other along a central axis. If you were to draw a vertical line down the centre of a symmetrically balanced composition, the left half would be a mirror image of the right half in terms of shape, colour, size, and arrangement of elements.

Symmetrical balance creates a sense of stability, formality, and order. It is commonly found in architecture (such as the facade of a classical building), religious art, and formal design. The human face and body are approximately symmetrical, which is one reason this type of balance feels natural and harmonious to viewers.

Asymmetrical balance, by contrast, uses different elements on each side of the composition that still achieve visual equilibrium through differences in colour, size, or placement. Radial balance arranges elements around a central point (like spokes on a wheel), rather than along a central axis. Vertical is not a type of balance in the principles of design; it describes a direction or orientation.