How to Center a Drawing on the Page

Recreational drawing is a great way to relax and focus on something removed from yourself. One of the most important steps in any drawing is making sure your subject is centered on the page. There are a few different methods you can use to achieve this effect.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Think about your final product before you ever touch the paper. If the main part of your drawing is bigger on one side than the other, you may want to offset it slightly on the page. It will appear centered even though it isn't.

2. Fold your page in half lengthwise and then again at its width. This will give you a center point and divide your drawing area into quadrants, making sizing easier. You should only use this for rough sketches, as it leaves folds on your paper.

3. Measure your paper's sides to find the exact middle of them and draw a faint "+" with your ruler. This gives results similar to folding, but you can erase the marks.

4. Create lines that connect opposite corners of your page to create an "x" symbol. This method doesn't require a ruler, just a simple straight edge.