Question about 毛笔字 Chinese Calligraphy and Character Order

[pdog]

Hi folks, I just had a question about the direction and order of characters for Chinese Calligraphy.

 

I know traditionally you have two orders, either right to left, or top to bottom (see attached).

 

My question is, for something like a 4 character set (成语), is a 2 x 2 square considered proper, or is it very rare?  I don't mean something you put on a seal, but actual calligraphy.  Additionally, if a 2 x 2 square order is permissible, what direction would be considered proper?  For example I have two sets (Square 1 and Square 2), where the first set is Top-Bottom-First-Then-Right-Left, and the second is Right-Left-First-Then-Top-Bottom.

 

For the sake of example, I have chosen "脱颖而出" as an example.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Hofmann]

Usually if it's just 4 characters, it's just a single column as in your first image, unless for some reason you can't fit it in a column and you have to make it a row as in your last image. A square arrangement is usually for seals, so it would be pretty weird to do so if you have room for a column, but in such a case, they should be as in your second image.

[pdog]

Thanks for the response Hofmann.  You are right, it is for space considerations, but now I know what kind of order and formation needs to be used.