The Value Selector is an interactive value scale that helps you isolate and study specific value ranges in your reference images. Click any value on the scale to highlight all matching areas in your image.
How it works
The value selector displays a scale from pure black (0%) to pure white (100%). Tap any value on this scale to highlight all areas of your image that match that value range.
Use the +/- controls to adjust how many distinct values you want to work with. Fewer values create bold, graphic studies, while more values preserve subtle gradations.
Interactive value exploration
The value selector makes it easy to:
- See exactly where each value appears in your composition
- Compare the distribution of lights and darks
- Identify value masses and how they connect
- Train your eye to distinguish between similar values
Finding the right number of values
Different value counts serve different purposes:
- 2 values (notan): Creates the most dramatic simplification, showing only the essential light/dark pattern of your composition.
- 3-4 values: Ideal for planning paintings, these preserve enough information while remaining simple to execute.
- 5-7 values: Balances simplicity with subtlety, good for more detailed studies while avoiding overwhelming complexity.
- 8+ values: Preserves most of the original image's gradations, useful for studying subtle value transitions.
Tips for use
Start with fewer values (2-4) to understand the big picture, then gradually increase to see more subtle transitions. This trains your eye to see both the broad value structure and the finer details.
Try clicking through each value in order to see how your composition is built from distinct value masses. This reveals the underlying structure that makes compositions readable.
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