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Create a Value Scale in Drawing

The document provides instructions for drawing a value scale with 9 steps: 1. Draw 9 equally sized and spaced boxes using a ruler. 2. Establish the lightest (value 1) and darkest (value 9) values as reference points by leaving value 1 blank and filling in value 9 with a dark pencil. 3. Estimate the middle value (value 5) by blending 50% white and 50% black and fill it in, making adjustments later. Fill in neighbouring values on the scale so they almost merge together when squinting, to judge accuracy.

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22 views5 pages

Create a Value Scale in Drawing

The document provides instructions for drawing a value scale with 9 steps: 1. Draw 9 equally sized and spaced boxes using a ruler. 2. Establish the lightest (value 1) and darkest (value 9) values as reference points by leaving value 1 blank and filling in value 9 with a dark pencil. 3. Estimate the middle value (value 5) by blending 50% white and 50% black and fill it in, making adjustments later. Fill in neighbouring values on the scale so they almost merge together when squinting, to judge accuracy.

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Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
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How to Draw a Value Scale

You will need:

Sketchbook
Ruler
No. 2 pencil
Kneaded eraser (optional)

1. Using a ruler, draw nine equally sized and spaced boxes.

2. When you begin a drawing, in order to accurately capture the relationships between the
values, you first establish your lightest and darkest values. That way, you have two points of
reference to which you can compare all the other values.
Use the same process when drawing the value scale, and begin
by establishing the lightest value (value 1) and the darkest value
(value 9). Since I am using white paper I leave the value 1 box
blank, and use a 6B pencil to fill in the value 9 box. Do not worry if
it is not perfectly even at this point.
Save

3. We now have the two extremes of our value range: white and black.

Sa

veThe

next step is to establish the middle value: value 5.

Estimate how dark value 5 should be by imagining what it might look like to blend 50% white
with 50% black.
Later on, when you have drawn in more values on the scale, it will be easier to tell how accurate
you were, and darken or lighten value 5 as necessary.
Since you will probably have to adjust your values, do not worry about making them perfectly
even at this point.

4. Now that you have an estimated middle value, you can choose to either begin with value 2 or
value 8 and work inwards towards value 5. I began with value 2.

Fill in the box evenly enough to get a


sense of the overall value.

Save

Helpful Hint!
The neighbouring values on the scale should be similar enough to each other that when you put
them side by side and squint your eyes way down: they almost merge together. For example,
squint your eyes and look:

Notice that it becomes difficult to tell exactly where the boundaries are between the
neighbouring values. Use this technique to help you judge the accuracy of your values as you
draw the value scale.

5. Continue filling in values 3 and 4 on your scale, constantly evaluating the accuracy of your
existing values. For example, in the image above I noticed that my value 5 box was too dark. I
lightened it using the technique described below.

Save

Adjusting the Values Using a Kneaded Eraser

During this exercise you will most likely


use your kneaded eraser just as much
as your pencil. You can think of the
kneaded eraser as a white pencil that
can be shaped into various forms to
help you adjust your values.

For example, if I have to lighten an


entire value box, I can flatten the
kneaded eraser and use it to very
lightly brush across a wide area.
Save

Save

It will take some practice to do this evenly, but it is a great technique once you get the hang of it.
Kneaded erasers can also be shaped into points resembling the point of a pencil, and used to
pick out individual dark "spots" within a value.

Continue filling in values 6 through 8, adjusting the values until you have a
completed scale!

Save

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