{"id":2666,"date":"2010-03-03T05:55:43","date_gmt":"2010-03-03T09:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/?p=2666"},"modified":"2021-11-26T08:47:37","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T08:47:37","slug":"developing-your-sensitivity-to-gradation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/2666\/developing-your-sensitivity-to-gradation\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Your Sensitivity to Gradation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2668\" title=\"reflection_saltlake\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/reflection_saltlake.jpg\" alt=\"reflection_saltlake\" width=\"425\" height=\"413\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The engine that drives color dynamics, contrast, is a measure of the difference between colors. Contrast can be measured by both the amount and kind of difference between colors.<\/p>\n<p>You can discuss contrast in terms of amount. There can be a lot or a little. You can move between two very different colors (i.e. from black to white) or two similar colors (i.e. from dark gray to light gray).<\/p>\n<p>You can discuss contrast in terms of how transitions between colors are made. There can be many (fine) or few (coarse) steps in-between colors. (Having many steps in between contrasting values is an essential criterion for continuous-tone imagery.)<\/p>\n<p>You can discuss contrast in terms of how transitions progress. The steps in between can be made in a regular (even) or irregular (uneven) manner.<\/p>\n<p>If contrast brings variety and energy, ask yourself what kind of energy you seek. Just as each color often elicits a set of associations, so to does each type of contrast.<\/p>\n<p>High contrast images are often thought of as dramatic, while low contrast images are often thought of as quiet. Images, where transitions are made with many steps, are considered smooth, while those with only a few are considered abrupt. When gradations transition evenly they seem calm, graceful, and can be navigated quickly, while when they transition unevenly they seem dynamic, syncopated, and take more time to navigate. There are many subtle distinctions that can be made within these broad generalizations. This is an area that rewards continued exploration.<\/p>\n<p>Sharpen your eye, by developing the ability to identify both the amount and quality of contrast between colors. You\u2019ll find this to be an extremely valuable skill. You\u2019ll increase your sensitivity to color, expand the range of color choices available to you, and add strategies for meeting color challenges. Color will become more intense and pleasurable for you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2683\" title=\"intervals_1hue_variL\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_1hue_variL2.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_1hue_variL\" width=\"425\" height=\"39\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Luminosity intervals of one hue. Hues achieve maximum saturation at specific luminosities.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2672\" title=\"intervals_1H_variS\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_1H_variS.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_1H_variS\" width=\"425\" height=\"39\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Saturation intervals of one hue \u2013 luminosity and hue stable. Achievable only for mid-level luminosities.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2675\" title=\"intervals_variH_maxS\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_variH_maxS.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_variH_maxS\" width=\"425\" height=\"35\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hue intervals \u2013 maximum saturation, luminosity shifts. Hues achieve maximum saturation at different luminosities.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2676\" title=\"intervals_variH_1L\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_variH_1L.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_variH_1L\" width=\"425\" height=\"35\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hue intervals \u2013 luminosity stable, saturation shifts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2673\" title=\"intervals_compsthruS\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_compsthruS.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_compsthruS\" width=\"425\" height=\"35\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hue intervals between two complementary hues passing through the color wheel.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2674\" title=\"intervals_compsthruH\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/intervals_compsthruH.jpg\" alt=\"intervals_compsthruH\" width=\"425\" height=\"35\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hue intervals between two complementary hues passing around the color wheel.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2677\" title=\"gradation_exercise\" src=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/gradation_exercise.jpg\" alt=\"gradation_exercise\" width=\"425\" height=\"198\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Try These Exercises.<\/strong><br \/>\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create a set of equal luminosity intervals of one hue.<br \/>\nOptionally, repeat for all hues \u2013 ROYGBIV.<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As above, create equal intervals of hue.<br \/>\nOptionally, repeat for all hues \u2013 ROYGBIV.<br \/>\nOptionally, repeat for all hues at different luminosity levels.<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As above, create equal intervals of saturation.<br \/>\nOptionally, repeat for all hues \u2013 ROYGBIV.<br \/>\nOptionally, repeat for all hues at different luminosity levels.<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Match the intervals (luminosity, hue, and saturation) between two color progressions.<\/p>\n<p><em>Because it\u2019s difficult to separate other forms of image content from color, color exercises are best performed abstractly. While it\u2019s useful to check numerical values for colors and color relationships, because these exercises are perceptual (often incorporating physiological and psychological responses that are not physically measurable), determine your answers visually. Train and trust your eye.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/37680\/color-theory-2\/\">Read more Color Theory.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/workshops\/\">Learn more\u00a0in my digital photography and digital printing workshops.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The engine that drives color dynamics, contrast, is a measure of the difference between colors. Contrast can be measured by both the amount and kind of difference between colors. You can discuss contrast in terms of amount. There can be a lot or a little&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[65],"tags":[1594,46,1596,1597],"post_folder":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Developing Your Sensitivity to Gradation - John Paul Caponigro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnpaulcaponigro.com\/blog\/2666\/developing-your-sensitivity-to-gradation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Developing Your Sensitivity to Gradation - John Paul Caponigro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The engine that drives color dynamics, contrast, is a measure of the difference between colors. 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