Elements of Design -

Value
AKA - How to manipulate graphic
tools in a Way that the Human
Eye Likes to View Them
Focus Statement VALUE/TONE
Look at the following slides with the intentions of focusing
on:

what the YES examples have in common
how the YES examples differ from the NO
examples

Dont focus on the subject of the picture; rather, focus on
the effect that the image has on you with regards to you
recognizing how value/tone is applied in each
composition.
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
Can you define VALUE/TONE yet?
Value refers to the lightness/darkness of areas in design
A full range of tones for each standard colour results from controlling the amount
of black and white added (ex. Very light red is called pink light pink is created
by adding even more white)
Designers make use of a scale of tones (referred to as tones or shades) that
may range from black to white.
Light and shadow is essential in creating the illusion of 3-dimensionality on a 2-D
surface
Shading aka chiaroscuro is a value manipulation technique of representation
that blends light and shade gradually to create the illusion of 3D objects in space
or atmosphere to create the illusion of realistic curvature, depth, etc.
One of the presets in Word, PowerPoint, etc. is the use of shades. While they
give you options of the standard colours below, check out the Theme Colours
listed visually for you are all the values of a given colour available in the
software.


In the previous YES examples, VALUE/TONE played
a pivotal role. It created contrast, depth, definition
(texture, movement and emphasis).

Does this use VALUE
effectively?

While there is variation in the
red values, this isnt the best
possible example. Imagine
this shot closer to one of the
pillars, and getting the stark
detail of the crags because of
the sameness of value, but
the differences created by
light hitting the texture. OK,
but could be better..
Is this an example of good use of
TONE?
The similarity of tonehere
creates a lack of focus.
Are the goats the focus?
If so, a tighter shot of
one or two of them to
emphasize their
whiteness contrasted
against the redness of
the background would
have been more
effective. Not a great
example.
A strong TONE example?
Absolutely! The variances in
the blue definitely helps to
keep your eye in the piece,
moving around with the paler
values of the blue colour. The
darker toens of blue create
mood and atmosphere that is
somewhat gloomier. Your eye
naturally moves to the lighter
tones of blue. Notice that
taking away the hue of blue
loses nothing in this photo. In
fact, it actually enhances it
even more. Thats when you
know that TONE is strong!
A strong example of VALUE?
Because of the small
range of value of the
beige colour used here,
there is no real contrast.
Hence, it seems
washed out, just like it
was because of the
excessive light issue.
The overlighting creates
a lack of value, which
means theres no
contrast and its all too
same and flat.
TONE?
This is a mediocre example
of tone. While there is some
range of contrast in the
beige tones on the rams
chest and head and horns, a
greater range of tone would
have created more depth,
more texture and more
definition. The ram would
blend less into its
surroundings. This causes
the image to lack
background -> middle
ground -> foreground visual
movement.