Apparel Designing and Construction

Apparel Designing and Construction 3(1+2)

Lesson 6 : Elements of Design- Color

Value keys

In choosing the various values to be used together in a particular composition a series of value keys have been developed to aid the student in making reference to or describing a particular arrangement of values. These “keys” utilize the terms “major” and “minor” “Major” signifies strong contrast of values, while “minor” signifies little contrast or the same values. Values above medium were referred to as “high values” and those below medium as “low values” therefore, by combining these terms with the words “major” and minor” we can arrive at the following “value keys”.

1. High major key: Strong contrast of dark and light values with at least five steps difference in values with high values (above medium) occupying a larger area than the low values. (They may be any hue or neutrals.)
2. Low major key: Strong contrast of dark and light values with at least five steps difference in values with low values (below medium) occupying a larger area than the high values. (They may be any hue or neutrals.)
3. High minor key: Same or similar values with no more than three steps apart on the value scale, and all above medium in value. (They may be any hue or neutrals.)
4. Low minor key: Same or similar values with no more than three steps apart on the value scale, and all below medium in value. (They may be any hue or neutrals.)
5. Intermediate minor key: Same or similar values with no more than three steps apart on the value scale and all in the middle part of the value scale. (They may be any hue or neutrals.)
6. Intermediate major key: Strong contrast of dark and light values with at least five steps difference in values occupying the largest area of medium value (They may be any hue or neutrals.)