Shade, tint, and tone refer to variations in color and are important concepts in art and design. Knowing how to make and use shades, tints, and tones allows artists to expand their color palette and create more dynamic compositions. In this article, we’ll explore what exactly shade, tint, and tone are, when and why they’re used, and step-by-step methods for mixing your own. Whether you’re a painter, graphic designer, or just experimenting with color, read on to enhance your artistic skills and color sense.
Definitions and Uses
Before diving into the how-to, let’s clarify some key definitions:
Shade: A shade is a color mixed with black, which darkens it. Adding black creates a darker variation of the original hue.
Tint: A tint is a color mixed with white, which lightens it. Adding white creates a paler, softer version of the original hue.
Tone: A tone is produced by adding gray to a color, making it duller and less saturated. This creates subtle variations in intensity.
Artists utilize shades, tints, and tones to create emphasis, direct the viewer’s eye, convey mood and dimension, and much more. Darker shades visually recede, making objects seem distant. Lighter tints come forward, making objects seem closer. Tones create realistic gradients and shadows. Mixing these color variations adds visual interest, depth, and contrast to a composition.
Mixing and Measuring Shades
When learning how to mix shades, you’ll need paints or inks in your chosen hue and black paint/ink. The more black you add, the darker the shade becomes. To achieve different shades systematically, you can measure your mix ratios. Here’s a simple process:
Supplies:
– Paints/inks in color(s) of your choosing
– Black paint/ink
– Mixing surface (palette, plate, etc.)
– Paintbrush
– Container for mixing
– Measuring spoons
Steps:
1. Start with 1 tsp of your color
2. Add black paint, increasing the amount each time:
– 1/4 tsp black for light shade
– 1/2 tsp black for mid-range shade
– 1 tsp black for dark shade
3. Mix together thoroughly before painting
4. Repeat, experimenting with different ratio increments.
The more black you add, the darker the shade becomes. Test ratios on a practice sheet before applying shades to your artwork.
Mixing Tints
Mixing tints follows the same idea as shades, except you’ll substitute white rather than black. Follow these steps:
Supplies:
– Paints/inks in color(s) of your choosing
– White paint/ink
– Mixing surface
– Container for mixing
– Paintbrush
– Measuring spoons
Steps:
1. Start with 1 tsp of your color
2. Add white paint, increasing the amount each time:
– 1/4 tsp white for light tint
– 1/2 tsp white for mid-range tint
– 1 tsp white for pale tint
3. Mix together before painting
4. Repeat, testing different ratio increments.
The more white you add, the lighter the tint becomes. Experiment on a test sheet first.
Creating Tones with Gray
Tones mix a color with shades of gray. You can mix gray yourself using black and white paint/ink, or use pre-mixed gray paints/inks. Follow these steps:
Supplies:
– Paints/inks in color(s) of your choosing
– Gray paints/inks in light to dark shades
– Mixing surface and container
– Paintbrush
– Measuring spoons
Steps:
1. Start with 1 tsp of your color
2. Add gray paint, increasing the amount each time:
– 1/4 tsp light gray for subtle tone
– 1/2 tsp mid-gray for medium tone
– 1 tsp dark gray for intense muted tone
3. Mix thoroughly before applying
4. Repeat, testing different gray ratios
Use lighter grays to subtly dull a color. Use darker grays to significantly desaturate and mute a color.
Tinting, Shading, and Toning Paint Colors
The techniques above work for any paints or inks. Here’s a look at how you can specifically mix shades, tints, and tones using common painting mediums:
Watercolor: Watercolors are transparent, so they naturally produce tints by layering and shades by mixing with other colors. Add white gouache or acrylic for lighter tints. Mix in black watercolor or ink for darker shades.
Acrylic: Acrylics easily mix with black or white to create shades and tints. Add black, white, or gray paint as needed. Avoid overthinning with water when mixing.
Oil paint: Mix oil paint shades by thinning with paint thinner/turpentine, then adding black paint. Create tints by adding white. Use gray paints for tones. Take care not to overthin the paint.
Gouache: Opaque gouache paint is ideal for mixing shades and tints. Simply thin with water, then mix in black or white paint as needed. You can also mix in gray gouache for tones.
Shading, Tinting, and Toning Ink, Dye, and Digital Colors
Inks, dyes, and digital art media like photo editing software also lend themselves well to mixing color variations:
Ink: Add black ink to any colored ink to create darker shades. Mix white gouache or acrylic paint into inks for lighter tints.
Dye: Dye more fabric or paper in the dye bath to create darker shades. Remove dyed fabric/paper early for lighter tints.
Digital art: Use hue/saturation tools to create tints and shades. Lower saturation for tones. Use brush tools with black, white, and gray to manually mix variations.
Color Theory Principles for Shades, Tints, and Tones
Certain color theory principles can help guide you in mixing attractive shades, tints, and tones. Here are some tips:
- Use warm shades (mixed with black) to create depth and recede cool colors. Use cool tints (mixed with white) to soften intense warm hues.
- Complementary shades and tints (of opposite colors like red and green) intensify contrast when placed together.
- Mixing successive shades or tints of a single hue creates a color gradient. This adds dimension.
- Muting warm colors with tones subdues their intensity. Muting cool colors warms and softens them.
Also remember that different colors have unique properties when shaded, tinted, or toned. Experiment to see what works best for your purposes.
Examples and Uses of Shades, Tints, and Tones in Art
Here are some examples of using color variations in artwork, with practical applications:
Shading in Drawing
Shading adds form, contours, and realism to drawings. Use a gradient of shades to depict changes in lighting and surface orientation:
| Light source | Gradated shading from light to dark creates 3D effect |
Underpainting
Painting from dark to light by starting with an underpainting of shaded colors provides depth and luminosity:
| Dark underpainting | Final painting with tints layered over underpainting shades |
Color Calibration Bars
Tints and tones are used to create calibration bars when proofing designs for consistent color:
| Tints – 10%, 30%, 60% | Tones – 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% |
Tips for Effective Use of Shades, Tints, and Tones
To use shades, tints, and tones successfully in your artwork, keep these tips in mind:
– Subtlety is key – start with small amounts of black, white, or gray
– Layer tints over shades to transition smoothly from light to dark
– Use warm shades/cool tints and complement tones to create vivid contrast
– Shade shadows, tint highlights, tone midtones to mimic lighting
– Let the existing color properties guide you (warm vs. cool, transparent vs. opaque, etc.)
– Don’t overmix colors to avoid muddiness
– Test mixes before committing them to your artwork
Conclusion
Whether you’re working with paint, inks, dyes, or digital media, mixing shades, tints, and tones allows you to expand your color palette dramatically. By following the techniques and tips provided, you can gain full mastery of color variations to create visual depth, dimension, contrast, and vibrancy in your artwork. With practice, you’ll be able to “tint, shade, and tone” colors expertly.