The 'figure' is generally a form, silhouette, or shape that the eye differentiates as a separate object from its surrounding area. This surrounding area is known as the 'ground' (background). Balancing figure and ground can make the perceived image more clear, whilst using unusual figure/ground relationships can add interest and subtlety to an image.
The line between figure and ground is often blurred, as in a complex composition there will be several things to notice. As we look from one to another they each become figure in turn; as attention shifts from figure to figure the ground also shifts so that an object can go from figure to ground and back. Everything that is not figure is ground.
In the magazine spread (left), the figure and ground are clearly obvious: the headline of the article in a large, bold typeface attracts the eye first and becomes the 'figure'. Whilst focusing on this the article text and large expanse of white space behind it merge into one, becoming the 'ground' in this context. Even when a direct effort is made to focus the eye on the body of text, the headline is still very much prominent in the viewers peripheral vision, meaning the figure is almost always consistent within the page.
Although a similar layout, the figure and ground in the magazine spread (right) are actually very different. The bold typeface is again the initial point of focus, but the lens flare in the centre of the background photograph draws the eye between type and image. More than one point of focus is established, and the details and contrasting colouring of the background image further blur the distinction between background and foreground.
