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Goal: Use light and dark values to show form, mood, and focus.

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Key ideas

Value means how light or dark something is. A clear value range can make flat shapes look three-dimensional.

Look for:

• Highlight: the brightest area
• Light side: the side facing the light
• Core shadow: the darkest part on the form
• Cast shadow: the shadow an object makes on another surface
• Reflected light: light bouncing back into a shadow

Creative challenge

1. Make a scale with five values from white to black.
2. Draw a sphere, cube, and cylinder.
3. Choose one light direction.
4. Shade each form using your five-value scale.
5. Add a cast shadow.

Reflect

• Is the light direction consistent?
• Can you identify the object without outlines?
• Which value attracts your eye first?