VALUE: The Art of Light & Dark

VALUE


(noun) - A formal element of art, value refers to the range of lightness or darkness of tone or color within an image. Value becomes critical in a work which has no colors other than black, white and a gray scale. For a great example of value in action, think of a black and white photograph. You can easily visualize how the infinite variations of gray suggest planes and textures.


Gradient Value: This is the approach to using tone or "shading' which utilizes soft, blending, blurring movements from light to dark and vice versa to try to capture the effects of light on subject matter in the physical world. Light and shadow is used to created the illusion of shape, depth and texture as well as environmental illusions of light.

Rembrant Artists Father

Edward Weston

Robert Longo (contemporary)

Now look at the difference in the same subject matter when we switch to Graphic/Closed value, where independent shapes and areas are given distinct non-gradient values edge to edge. This effect creates greater contrast and immediacy, but sacrifices realism. This is the approach to value most frequently scene in graphic design.

Shepard Fairly

In this vintage Polish movie poster, graphic value and chromatic (color) contrast work hand in hand. Remember in every color their is still a value that must be considered.

also here:

 closed/graphic value grey scale


gradient/illusionistic grey scale