How do we measure the differences in light or dark necessary to recognize values with our eye or realize in paints our intended value design? We use a value scale or photographer's grayscale.
Somewhere along the way between psychology lab and art text, the rule developed that the eye can discriminate no more than 9 distinct gradations in lightness, from lightest to darkest. Of course, we can see a much larger number of value differences than that. The actual limitation is that a larger number of value steps becomes impractical to recognize across different situations and match accurately with paints.
The nine step rule suggested the design of the standard nine step value scale, originally proposed by Denman Ross in 1907. His value terms are useful and easy to memorize:
Here is your assignment:
Print the worksheet.
Shade four simplified (5 shades only) value scales using four different value (shading) techniques: hatching, cross-hatching, stippling (pointillism), and blending.
Always start with the darkest value.
 Hatching
 Crosshatching
 Pointillism
 Blending
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