When talking about photography the term tone refers to the overall range of lightness and darkness, and color variation within an image. Also often referred to as ‘value’ the tone of an image can have a drastic effect on how an image ‘feels’; Images containing many dark tones often appear dramatic and sad while images featuring light tones appear happy and vibrant. juxtaposition between image subject and tone can be used to create jarring and powerful images. The difference between the lightest and darkest tones within an image is referred to as ‘Dynamic-Range’.
Tone is incredibly powerful. It is a large part of what sets the mood of the final image.
Tones in Color Photography
In black and white photography, the tones are a lot more obvious since it changes the photo to sepia and white or another color and white. However, that doesn’t make the toning of color photography, even though it is subtler, any less powerful. With color photography, it all comes down to enhancing the mood and meaning of the image.
As you’re thinking about tones, start with warm and cool colors, and think about their properties. Warm colors — reds, yellows, oranges and browns — can lend a variety of different feelings to an image, ranging between excitement and welcoming warmth. Cool colors, like green, blue and violet, on the other hand, tend to be more relaxing and refreshing, although blue can be used to indicate sadness.
Color tones can be broken down even deeper than that, however. As you are choosing a tone, it helps to think about the psychology behind colors — in other words, how colors affect people. Here is a quick list of the meaning of various colors to help you choose the perfect tone:
- Red is a rare color to use as a cast in a color image, but it has been done before. In general, red has warmth and energy to it, and it can also be used to convey a sense of strength or danger. When you see a red color cast, most often, it will be a shade that trends towards brown.
- Orange tones make people think of comfort — good food, warmth and a sense of security.
- Yellow is a commonly used tone, and in fact, it is the tone that you’ll get when you take photographs as the sun is getting ready to set for the day — that rich, golden color that makes everything seem more cheerful.
- Green is the color of harmony. It tends to make people feel refreshed, so when you add a green cast to an image, make sure that the subject material matches the fresh and tranquil tone you’ve chosen.
- Blue is likely the most versatile color. Depending on your subject material, it can indicate serenity or tranquility. Because it is such a chilly color, however, it can also lend a depressing sort of feeling to your images.
- Violet tends to make images feel more authentic, and with certain subject material, the image may see more upscale or luxurious. In fact, in monochrome photography, this hue is popular since it conveys a sense of grandeur or motion.
Be aware that shifts in shade mean a lot, too. For instance, a red that trends toward brown, a completely brownish cast, or a yellow-green color can all give the image a completely different feeling than their parent colors will. Experiment in post processing with various shades, and you’ll quickly see what I mean.
Tones in Black and WhitePhotography
As mentioned before, when it comesto tones in monochrome photography, they tend to be a lot more obvious. Thereare also three ways to add tones to your monochrome images: Add the color tothe lightest areas of the photograph, keeping your blacks black, change thecolor of the blacks and middle tones while leaving the highlights alone, or toneall of the colors across the range.
- When it comes to colors, there are several popular options. For instance, sepia is used to soften the image, or to make the image resemble an old-fashioned photograph. If you browse sepia photos, you’ll notice that some trend more towards black, with brownish highlights, while others are sepia all the way through.
A Note on Subtlety
With every image that you create,don’t hesitate to tinker with the tones. You’ll be amazed to find that slightadjustments make a huge difference. And, since most of us aren’t attempting toapply tones using obscure and old-fashioned processes anymore, you’ll be ableto experiment endlessly to learn what works best for each individual image.
FAQs
The elements of design are the fundamental aspects of any visual design which include shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture. Graphic designers use the elements of design to create an image that can convey a certain mood, draw the eye in a certain direction, or evoke a number of feelings.
What are the 6 basic elements of design describe each? ›
Design elements are the basic units of any visual design which form its structure and convey visual messages. The elements of design are line, shape, form, space, texture, tone (or value) and color, "These elements are the materials from which all designs are built."
What are the 8 elements of design definitions? ›
Line, shape, form, texture, space, imagery, typography and color. Understanding each of these basic elements of graphic design in isolation will help you see how to bring them together and open a whole world of creative possibilities.
What are the 5 elements of design describe each? ›
Elements of design are the basic units of a visual image, they include space, line, balance, color, and shape. The elements also compliment each other. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, zigzag, diagonal or curved.
What are the 7 basic principles of design? ›
The fundamental principles of design are: Emphasis, Balance and Alignment, Contrast, Repetition, Proportion, Movement and White Space. Design differs from art in that it has to have a purpose. Visually, this functionality is interpreted by making sure an image has a center of attention, a point of focus.
What are 5 basic designs? ›
As someone in the field of design, it's important to understand and utilise these principles: balance, contrast, alignment, hierarchy, and repetition. These principles serve as the foundation for creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also functional.
What are the six fundamentals of design? ›
Start with the six principles of design: balance, pattern, rhythm, emphasis, contrast, and unity. Just as instructional design models and methodologies shape your training strategy, so should these principles shape your basic visual strategy.
What are the 9 elements of design? ›
The elements, or principles, of visual design include Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Movement, White Space, Proportion, Hierarchy, Repetition, Rhythm, Pattern, Unity, and Variety.
What are the 6 elements and 6 principles of art? ›
The elements of art are color, form, line, shape, space, and texture. The principles of art are scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth.
What are the 14 elements of design? ›
Elements of design
- Color. Color is the result of light reflecting back from an object to our eyes. ...
- Line. The line is an element of art defined by a point moving in space. . ...
- Point. A point is basically the beginning of “something” in “nothing”. ...
- Shape. Main article: Shape and form (visual arts) ...
- Texture. ...
- Space. ...
- Form.
There are 10 principles of design in total! They're also known as the elements of visual design, and are: movement, balance, contrast, proportion, repetition, rhythm, variety, emphasis, harmony, and unity.
What are the 8 principles of design? ›
The 8 principles of design are fundamental to creating visually appealing and effective designs. These principles are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, and unity.
What are the 20 elements of design? ›
20 Design Elements and Principles Every Designer Should Know
- Lines. Look anywhere around you and you'll see lines. ...
- Scale. Scale defines how you will size different elements in a single design. ...
- Color. It's unbelievable how much impact color has on everything. ...
- Consistency. ...
- White Space. ...
- Symmetry. ...
- Opacity. ...
- Texture.
They are SPACE, LINE, LIGHT, COLOR, FORM, TEXTURE AND PATTERN. Whether you are considering renovating your house from scratch or simply looking for home décor ideas for a room in your house, take our crash course in the building blocks of interior design.
What are the 7 elements of art? ›
The seven elements of art are line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color.
What are the 7 elements of art and their definitions? ›
There are seven elements of art: line, including diagonal, vertical, and wavy lines; shape; space, which can be created by overlapping shapes; value, which can be understood using a scale; form, which is only applicable to three-dimensional works of art; texture, which can be real and implied, and color.
What are the 7 principles of art? ›
The Principles of Art (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety) represent how the Elements of Art (line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space) are used by an artist to create a painting, drawing, or other work of art.
What are the 7 elements of a logo? ›
- The right shape. Graphic design is all about visual communication. ...
- The right business cues. Logos communicate need-to-know information about your brand. ...
- The right colors. Just like shapes, each color has its own emotional connotations. ...
- The right tone. ...
- The right typography. ...
- The right trends. ...
- The right sizes.
Step 7: Improve
Step seven is not so much a step as it is backtracking to the planning phase and determining what should be changed in your design, building a new prototype, and testing again.
