Fig. 6. Simple development of shape and measure rhythm such
as might occur on a printed page. Masses should be related in
measure as well as in shape.
Fig. 7. Simple illustration of tone rhythm as it may occur
on a type page. The tones progress from the white of the
margins through the light gray masses of type,
to the darker grays of decorations.
Shape rhythm is the regular recurrence of similar shapes in a design or a rhythmic increase or decrease in the size of shapes used in a design.
Tone rhythm is a recurrence of similar tones or a regular progression of related tones from light to dark or the reverse through a design.
The four qualities above are so closely related that there is often no definite dividing line between them; indeed, a successful design will embody them all.