Eyelines

Eyelines is the plural of eyeline, a term used to describe the invisible line along which a person or camera is oriented in relation to what they are looking at. The concept is widely used in film, photography, and visual design to convey focus and spatial relationships.

In film and video, eyeline direction is central to editing. An eyeline match occurs when the cut goes from a character looking at something to a shot of what they see, creating the illusion that the gaze continues across cuts. This technique helps preserve spatial continuity, supports storytelling, and, with the 180-degree rule, keeps screen direction consistent.

In photography and stagecraft, eyelines influence composition. Subjects are positioned and framed to guide viewers toward a point of interest, and directors arrange props and backgrounds to align with the intended gaze, preventing confusion about what the subject is looking at.

In eye-tracking research and user experience design, eyelines refer to measured gaze directions. Tracking eyelines reveals which areas attract attention, how long viewers look at elements, and how layout affects comprehension, informing design, advertising, and usability.

See also: gaze, gaze direction, eye-tracking, eyeline match, 180-degree rule.