Let’s take a look through your value scales!
When you're working on your value scales, it's common to have trouble seeing the subtle differences in mid-tones. One big mistake I saw in a lot of your work was not going dark enough with your values. Make sure to stretch your range all the way to black and get comfortable using darker tones. Also, don’t jump too quickly from your darkest value to the next one. That compresses your mid-tones and makes it harder to see the steps clearly.
Newest
zan
22d
Thanks for the direct critique Stan! Totally see what you're saying about the jumps in value, though I'm still struggling a bit. Hard one!
@bert2
24d
Does anyone how you would go about creating this short of line etching effect shading?
Brandon
24d
Thx for the advice Stan, The graphite one is definitely something that I am proud of, although the 0 and 1 could be done better. The airbrush one is not a trick or what, I just use it like a pencil, use the pure black (value 0) and use pressure to adjust the value, things got me confused is that it s hard to make the value consistent... Anyone have the experience on using that?
Vera Robson
26d
Thank you Stan for addressing my question! It was super helpful to see the exact tools you used in Photoshop to clean up my photo. No more excuses for posting murky images 😉
Caroline
26d
Thanks for the feedback, I have tried again and made the darkest value darker and the middle value darker, but I think the darker values (3 and 4) are now too similar. It's really hard!
@bert2
27d
Is that value scale you showed in the beginning called denman ross value scale ? should i print that one out ? If not could you maybe share the one you showed ?
CharmLotta
27d
Thanks for the detailed comment about the light. My desk lamp was good enough for all my hobbies so far, even for fairly precise work, like sewing or drawing with a fineliner. But distinguishing the subtle differences between the values in this assignment appeared difficult. I definitely have to test some different bulbs.
Juice
27d
My problem was that my lightest tone was to dark. And the steps on my lighter Tones was to big. And my dark Tones was like one big dark value. I will do it again and use my new led i got. 2H. Before my lightest pen was HB. Had the same problem with my alkohol markers. Dont know how to make the lightest marker lighter. Maybe use a layer of uncolored alcohol first by using the blender. And use white colored pencil afterwards.
@bumatehewok
27d
As a near sighted person, when I take of my glasses and squint it actually makes my vision more clear. So my two options are no glasses or squint with glasses on.
Alain Rivest
27d
Hey thanks Stan for reviewing my value scale. Here is the sketch pad I used. And yes, it is a kneaded eraser. It's yellow, not green. Just very dirty! ;)
Juice
28d
I also need a Bowser figure to Hold my brush!
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Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.