Value & Contrast

The element of art the refers to darkness and light.

Value

Contrast

The principle of design concerned with opposing differences in elements.

A dark value contrasts with a light value.

Value can be applied to color as well as achromatic images.

Achromatic – without chroma (the amount of color or brightness). Achromatic value deals only with black, white and the range of grays between them.

Value and contrast work together.

Variations in value provide the contrastneeded to distinguish objects against a background.

Strong contrasts in value suggest planes at various angles.

Subtle contrasts in value can indicate convex or concave surfaces.

This adds dimension to forms.

Leonardo de Vinci's "Mona Lisa", like most paintings, is structured on value and decorated with color.