Placement of "lightening" holes

Any aesthetic rules for this?

It seems to be all in the placement and relationship of the size of hole to the bracket/part. Get this right and it looks cool - get it wrong and it looks like ****.....

Advice welcomed.

 

I have heard it said that the hole should be no closer to the edge than half the hole's diameter. I don't think that's scientific, but it seems to work visually.

 

You put the biggest hole at the widest part. then every other circle from that, needs to get smaller the further away from the largest one?
I guess one could say they all need to step down in side equally.


pics of what youre trying to do might help?

 

The biggest problem is finding a center point on odds shapes. I lay my holes centers out with a veneir caliper. That way you can scribe a centerline along odd shapes or curves. Were always guilty of over drilling a part, so don't get carried away. A weak part my look good, but not for long when it fails!

 

Visual or Structural?

If its purely visual just make its all about visual balance.
I could agree Kirk is close with that formula to ensure that there is half the distance of the hole on either side so visually there is equal material to void. Follow that formula all the way around the hole.
Step each hole down in equal percentages from one hole to the next.
And use the golden design rule; Always use odd numbers.
I don't know to much about design, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

 

The holes should have the same distance between them as they are from the edge of the bracket, rail etc.

 

Thanks guys - that'll get me started. I knew there was something about odd numbers.

 

where ever the lightening wants...don't mess with the forces of nature