CHAPTER 2 Contrast and Affinity

The Key to Visual Structure

Visual structure is based on an understanding of the Principle of Contrast & Affinity. What is contrast? Contrast means difference.

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Here’s an example of contrast using the visual component of tone. Tone refers to the brightness of objects. Tone can be organized using a gray scale. Contrast of tone means two shades of gray that are as different in terms of brightness as possible. The two gray tones with maximum contrast or difference are the black square and the white square. A picture illustrating maximum contrast of tone would use only black and white tones.

This shot, all black and ...

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