- To understand value and saturation of color and light,…let's consider a term in art known as chiaroscuro,…the use of strong contrast between light and dark,…usually bold contrast affecting a whole composition.…Countless films have used chiaroscuro…for dramatic effect in film noir.…The films were shot in black and white,…explored purely and value the use of expressive light.…Most people associate chiaroscuro…with Renaissance paintings,…like this self-portrait of Rembrandt.…His paintings are synonymous…with the idea of light revealing only parts of a form…in a darkened space.…
My favorite example…is a painting by Caravaggio, The Sacrifice of Isaac.…As every element of contrasting light and shadow,…working together in concert, for a most compelling piece.…This painting, created between 1590 and 1610,…demonstrates not only the effective use of chiaroscuro,…but also a strong composition, depth of field,…and dramatic emotional impact,…achieved by limited color and saturation of pigment,…used to suggest the warm temperature of the light.…
Author
Mary Jane Begin
Released
8/20/2013These lessons are applicable to a number of fields, including graphic design, photography, and illustration, and both traditional and digital media. Dive in and get a fresh look at color that is sure to revitalize your creativity and your work.
- Understanding why color is essential for you as an artist, designer, or human being
- Storytelling with color
- Understanding brand identity and color language
- Reviewing the history of color usage, from print to digital
- Working with the color wheel
- Understanding value, saturation, and temperature
- Seeing through color: opaque, translucent, and transparent
- Creating contrast
- Exploring depth of field
- Seeing complementary relationships in light
- Achieving harmony and discord in a palette
- Understanding color blindness
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
-
Introduction
-
Welcome1m 6s
-
Exercise files22s
-
-
1. How Color Shapes Meaning
-
Concepts made clear4m 1s
-
Brand identity and language2m 53s
-
Sequence and pattern2m 31s
-
2. The Color Wheel
-
What is the color wheel?2m 20s
-
-
3. The Elements of Color
-
An overview of elements2m 48s
-
Saturation to neutralization3m 22s
-
Temperature: How hot is hot?3m 12s
-
-
4. Contrast
-
What is contrast?3m 10s
-
-
5. Color and Light
-
Illuminating light1m 54s
-
Value and saturation2m 27s
-
On temperature2m 58s
-
On complements2m 10s
-
RGB vs. CMYK3m 2s
-
-
6. Palettes
-
An introduction to palettes2m 15s
-
Harmony and discord2m 33s
-
Unifying color grounds2m 40s
-
Unifying glazes and layers2m 13s
-
Charting a color family2m 8s
-
-
7. Color Shape, Texture, and Context
-
Weaving textural color2m 50s
-
Color in context2m 31s
-
Color blindness3m 15s
-
Next Steps
-
Conclusion1m 3s
-
Take notes with your new membership!
Type in the entry box, then click Enter to save your note.
Press on any video thumbnail to jump immediately to the timecode shown.
Notes are saved with you account but can also be exported as plain text, MS Word, PDF, Google Doc, or Evernote.
Share this video
Embed this video
Video: Value and saturation