Chapter 7. Illustrations, Graphics, and Photos

50 Planning and Applying

Designers and illustrators have to make all kinds of important decisions concerning content, composition, style, and color when working on logos, layouts, and illustrations. Here’s a suggestion: Whenever possible, establish your piece’s look, structure, and feel using shades of gray before you begin applying color to your work of design or art.

Why follow this grays-before-color procedure? It’s because there’s often no point in applying hues until you have a good idea of exactly what you’ll be coloring and how many hues you’ll be needing to assemble for your palette.

Another good reason to work in the value-only mode of grays prior to applying color is that it will give ...

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