Design elements - Tone

descriptive

places

contrasting

gradations

emotions

feelings

ideas

About tone

Design elements - Tone

Tone is associated

with darkness and

light.

Design elements - Tone

In areas where there

is little or no light,

there will be dark

tones.

Design elements - Tone

In areas where there

is strong light, there

will be light tones.

Contrasting tone

Design elements - Tone

Contrast can be

created using areas

of very light and very

dark tones.

Gradations of tone

Design elements - Tone

Subtle gradations of

tone are created

using a range of

tones from dark to

light.

Creating tone

Design elements - Tone

Many different

techniques may be

used to create light or

dark tones. Dense

and sparse use of

other elements such

as line or shape can

also create tonal

effects.

Design elements - Tone

Black or white can

be added to colour to

create tones of that

colour.

Tone can serve many design needs

Design elements - Tone

Tone can be used to represent:

• objects

• people

• places

• ideas

in descriptive or symbolic ways.

Design elements - Tone

Tone can be used to

symbolically

represent different

quantities.

Design elements - Tone

Tone can be used

to describe

three-dimensional

objects.

Tone can communicate

Design elements - Tone

Tone can suggest:

• emotions

• feelings

• ideas.

Design elements - Tone

Dark tones can be

associated with

darkness, gloom,

drama,

melancholy, evil

and mystery.

Design elements - Tone

Light tones can be

associated with

openness, innocence,

delicacy or radiance.

Design elements - Tone

Contrasting tones or

extremes of light and

dark, can create

dramatic effects.

Tone can appeal to our senses

Design elements - Tone

Tones can create

visual effects and

patterns.

Tone can be functional

Design elements - Tone

Tones can be used to

create an illusion of

three-dimensional

form on a flat surface.

Design elements - Tone

Subtle gradations

of tone can create

an illusion of

three-dimensional

form.

Design elements - Tone

Light tones can create

a feeling of open space.

They have less visual

‘weight’ than

dark tones.

Design elements - Tone

Dark tones can

appear closer. They

have more visual

‘weight’ than

light tones.

Design elements - Tone

Placement of light and

dark tones can affect

readability of text.

Tone worksheet

Design elements - Tone

Teacher introduction (DOC) (PDF)

Student worksheet (DOC) (PDF)