Each aspect of color plays a role in the end result of any creative project. One of the least considered and most misunderstood aspects is value, that is, the degree to which a color is light or dark. For many people, “seeing” the value in a single color range is easy but as soon as they are looking at an assortment of colors, they get stuck.
It’s easy to see that there is a light blue, a medium blue, and a dark blue here.
It is easy to see the value of colors when they are shades of the same color.
But what about here? Do these colors have the same value or do they have different values?
Which skein is darkest? Which is lightest?
Many years ago, I learned this trick from a quilter: if you want to determine the value of various fabrics, take a black and white photocopy. Today, it is even easier. If you have a phone with a camera, take a photo and then switch the setting to B&W. Make sure that the color number or name is visible because once the photo is changed to a B&W image, it is hard to identify which is which.
Are you surprised that the blue is the darkest skein?
So why does this matter? When choosing colors for a bargello pattern, it will help determine the order of the colors and will let you know if the gradation in color is evenly distributed. Sometimes, this exercise will show you that you need to add a color between two colors or that you need to drop one if there is not enough of a difference between two colors in the scheme.
Understanding value will also help you choose a background color, especially if you have a single focal point. If the value of the background is too close to being the same as the value of the foreground … even if they are different colors … the end result will be muddy. The eye cannot discern where one ends and the other begins.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to value in the world of color. But understanding it will help you make choices that will give you the results you want.
Stitch. Enjoy. Love.
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