If you’ve ever seen a composition that’s one-dimensional and lacking depth, it’s missing one element of design: value. Value in graphic design is fundamental and can add a quality and layer of complexity to your artwork, print design, photography, and more. Let’s dig in a bit deeper and learn all about value!
What is value in graphic design?
As a principle, value in graphic design refers to how dark or light an element is. Basically, it describes where a color lies in the black/white spectrum (including shades of gray).
Value is the degree of lightness/darkness of a color. The brighter the color, the higher the value.
This concept shouldn’t be confused with hue or saturation, as it solely expresses the level of brightness.
It’s also important to note that the relationship between the values of two or more elements is known as value contrast, which can be high or low. A high-value contrast example is black text on a white background.
In any case, value should be present in every design, and you can notice it, especially in scenarios like:
- monochromatic designs where one color appears with varying levels of brightness
- typography, like the example set above
- shading, highlights, and gradients
Why you need value in graphic design
What good is it to know where a color stands in the range between black and white? As stated above, you need value to avoid having a flat, unimpressive design. However, value can do much more than that:
- It adds depth and dimension: playing with values simulates three-dimensional elements and sets the relationship between them. It can also create the illusion of movement and closeness.
- It establishes contrast and clarity: using colors with different values ensures the elements in the design are highly contrasted and clearly distinguishable.
- It creates emphasis: using value effectively can lead the eye and attention to specific focal points in a design.
- It sets the mood: how you employ colors and their value can help set a mood (e.g. higher value and low contrast create an airy look and feel).
If you want to explore more about the fundamentals of design, check out the basic elements of design course from Envato Tuts+.
Learn more about the design basics
Becoming a master graphic designer requires studying and having the right resources by your side. Now that you know about value in graphic design, move on to the next lesson!