3. Branch placement may be used to slow visual speed.
Illu
a. Properly placed branches, as shown in the illustration,
can provide an interesting and leisurely viewing of the
tree. Each branch should invite the eye to pause and
examine that branch before resuming its movement
along the trunk. Notice how easily your eye travels up
the trunk, pausing to explore a branch, and then
moving on.
b. Improperly placed branches can result in the visual
speed being slowed and even stopped. If two
branches are growing from the same location on
the trunk, one to the left and the other to the right
(“T” or “bar” branching), they act as a barrier to
smooth eye movement. The eye stops at the
junction of the two branches and has difficulty
deciding whether to go left or right and then has
trouble resuming the vertical scan.