The visual interest in this layout can be manipulated by changing the contrast between the two halves. In this ATC, both halves are relatively close in value. I really like using two patterned background papers together, so I’ve used a purple textured paper that’s the same color as some of the squares in the paper on the left.

Here, there’s a stark contrast between the two halves of the card background. See how different it looks?

Don’t feel that the smaller section has to be filled with an image. Here, I’ve used it to contain the text for an invitation. I’ve also added a tiny frame around the smaller box—this helps to separate it from its background a bit. If my focal point is blending into its background, I’ll often frame it like this.

The background split doesn’t have to be vertical—here’s a horizontal split. A good thing to know about horizontals divisions: always try to put the darker paper at the bottom, to ground the design. Think of the sections as earth and sky—a dark sky is always a bad sign!

I purposely made the bottom of this card lighter than the top to show why this is a bad idea. The patterned paper and image are floating on a base that’s just too light—and they’re not floating in a good way. I should have chosen a slightly darker paper for the bottom section, to keep the eye from being drawn downward to the lighter shade.