FINALLY! How to Use the Gray Scale & Value Finder like a pro!

One of the most difficult problems I had early on in my learning to draw realistically was how to use the gray scale & value finder tool like a pro.
While I had it explained to me to use the tool, I was unable to find anyone to actually point out the problem I was having, being able to accurately match up the value to the tone of an image and to the pencils I would need to use.
In this video I am going to show you how I figured out an easy way to use this tool to get you going right away identifying the correct tones for your drawings!
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[@gnostie]

OMG, where were you all these years... And why doesn't this video have millions of views?

[@kimcalhoun2590]

Right???? I’ve been searching for a video to help me with values and I FINALLY found one that makes sense!!!!

[@jenniferbaker2604]

Simplicity at it best Rix. I have struggled to understand the concept of values as was comparing the colour rather than the value tone. I just couldn't understand why people would swear by a tool that didn't correspond to my graphite/charcoal pencil 'colour'. You have explained this soooooo well and I now grasp the importance and will start putting it into practice to achieve more realistic drawings. Thank you

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad I could help. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@Pegisus2501]

I never looked at the value finder in this way before. 😮 Excellent video! 🥳🤩👍🏽 Thank you so much for sharing. 😊👍🏽🖌🎨🖼

[@RixCanDoit]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@robinhorasanian9667]

My value finder was delivered today and I found this video right away. Very helpful! Thank you.

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it helped!

[@runnerbeanjean]

One of the most comprehensive videos on gray scale and values. I have watched several and this has give me an idea of what it all means. Thank you.

[@RixCanDoit]

I'm glad that you found it helpful. Thanks for commenting!

[@fernanda18]

Just perfect!

[@franceslazu1784]

Thanks a lot!

[@georgemarklow4683]

Brilliant thank you!!

[@RixCanDoit]

You're very welcome!

[@diogeneslantern18]

I did all of this intuitively when I first got my value finder. It's not a knock on your video, rather that I'm happy you gave me confirmation that I did it right :) Just a constructive criticism - it's better to illustrate the point of squinting your eye by keeping the camera out of focus to better illustrate how to find the values.

[@kellycunningham5144]

This is so helpful for me. I was trying to figure out how this tool works. Thank you!

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad I could help.

[@TheLondonForever00]

Great job Rix, this is what I do. I've made a few value finders with the pencils I use. I made some 'lights' with 4h to B and 'midtones' H to 2B and 'darks' from 2B to 4B. Shadows from 4B to 8B. Depending on the picture but if I want it to be really contrasty I'll use Staedtler Mars Lumograph Black graphite/carbon mix pencils 2B-8B. Best pencils in the planet as you don't get graphite shine. Thanks for sharing Rix 👍

[@greekveteran2715]

WithFaber Castell Pitt Graphite Matt, you probably get the least graphite shine you can get, with any "non charcoal" pencil.

[@paulrivera797]

Fantastic video!!!!

[@RixCanDoit]

Thank you very much!

[@doreenrath]

Thank you so much. Very helpful and you did a nice job with your explanation and visuals

[@RixCanDoit]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

[@davidesparza662]

Never to late to learn something new !

[@RixCanDoit]

Ain't that the truth!

[@ranjanachand9306]

Very useful inputs 😀

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gwenritch]

one of the best explanations for pencil...now paint is slightly different but yes your lights and dark tones or values

[@AndrewMorgan666]

Thank you so much, I've had this value finder in my drawer for ages without understanding how to use it, so I didn't, but now that I do I shall. 👍🏻

[@RixCanDoit]

You're very welcome!

[@sue6002]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👩🏻‍🎨thank you. So helpful

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jackonona]

Great video! So helpful. Thank you!

[@RixCanDoit]

You're so welcome!

[@thereeldemodeal3389]

Very helpful. Thank you for doing ths

[@RixCanDoit]

My pleasure!

[@veetour]

Excellent tutorial. I'm gonna get one of those gray scale and value finders. They are so useful.

[@karenlavigne1108]

Thank you, good explanation!

[@Jan-444]

Thanks Rix you are appreciated! I bought one and this helps me sooo much!

[@johanneremillard263]

Thank you, this really helped me to know how to use the grey scale properly 👍

[@gregplaydon6102]

Thanks for the video, now I understand!

[@mohammadimran6994]

Great explanation...thank u Sir!!!

[@sunriseboy4837]

Thanks for that, Rix. I too always confused colour and tone. Excellent tuition. I'm grateful. When it comes to any 'blending' it is important not to get to 'enthusiastic', and work the graphite into the paper creating shine. And will you tell us, what is the pencil sharpener you have to get a good long point on your pencils please?

[@RixCanDoit]

I would highly recommend that you watch my pencil sharpener videos. There are several options.

[@Jcakiiiii]

So helpful!!!!!

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@priscilladaniellegoncalves3312]

Amazing! Thank youuuuu

[@CheriHomaee]

When I draw from portrait I make a copy from a copier and if I am using the gray scale and value finder I also make a copy from the copier and it matches better as a value

[@RixCanDoit]

Good advice!

[@cybrough]

Thanks, I needed that!

[@nyigambole1925]

couldn't stop laughing - 'squint'.... true... squinting does the job..🤣🤣

[@Margaret-228]

Very nice video. I'm just beginning to use value and this helped a lot.

[@hussmeister792]

Love crash courses! Thanks so much!

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting!

[@jatin8137]

Nice video sir👍👍

[@robmart8255]

Aahhh! I get it now. Thank you! 🎉

[@lise4369]

Fantastic video, great explanation 👌

[@RixCanDoit]

Thank you! 👍

[@liztheig]

No more pulling my hair. Thanks for explaining how to use this tool.

[@RixCanDoit]

Happy to help!

[@margaret8171]

This was so helpful to me - thank you!!

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LoveYouBeTrue]

Thank you so much for this!

[@RixCanDoit]

You're so welcome!

[@douglasgransaull8413]

Great info,much appreciated.was use ing an app,but this seems more accurate

[@RixCanDoit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@miscellaneousstuff1155]

Consider me enlightened🤩

[@mariepelosi23]

Thanks great tutorial...

[@davidcourts105]

Thankyou!!!

[@RixCanDoit]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@salkdjfasldkfjsdlk]

Great explanation. Thank you!

[@ModernMessiah]

So basically your eyes trick you and shows you a certain tone is lighter than it really is. When you use this scale you will see it is actually darker than you thought originally. For instance reflective light. Then you can trace over this scale onto a 4x6 blank index card then cut it out and shade each pencil in each box. You use it the same way with color. You can make color swatches and compare.

[@Eric_Draven713]

this might be helpful since the drawing im doing seems to be darker then the refrence picture. do you already have the scale listed to what pencils are to save me time or is it something I need to do on my own because of the way I shade might be as different then yours due to pressure and ect. ?

[@RixCanDoit]

Something you'll need to do on your own. We all have our own sets and shade pressures.

[@randyebastian8186]

Rix, how would you use gray scale when you’re dealing with color? Thanks for your graphite tips!

[@RixCanDoit]

I don't use it for color. Color pictures are converted to black and white before I draw them.

[@MrFoolingyu]

Change the color pic to greyscale in photoshop or photopaint then "find" the values on that image. Make a graded value swatch of the color you wish to apply and select the closest tone value to the greyscale value already determined.

[@asimian8500]

Color adds a lot of complexity as it has hue, value, and chroma. However, squinting reduces the chroma and allows you to see value which is what black & white does. If you're using a reference image, use an image manipulation program like GIMP (free) to convert it to black and white. If you're using Windows 10, the image editing software included can do the same job. Training the eye to detect value is critical. An interesting game to play is to determine the value (relative to other color shapes). I

[@randyebastian8186]

👍

[@TheChameleon2008]

Great video bro and it looks like a very handy tool indeed to have. I want to use it to measure the darkest and lightest tones so that i know that the other value's are in between those 2 and hope it will speed up my workflow without picking every tone out before drawing.

[@basilbigbie7875]

Can you show how to use the gray scale with colors.

[@RixCanDoit]

I wouldn't know where to start.

[@diogeneslantern18]

You usually take a picture and convert it to greyscale, however with even just a small bit of practice you can find The value. The only question to ever keep in mind is "is it lighter or is it darker" than the overlay - it is very easy to determine.

[@kd5nrh]

Erm...reerse engineering might make some sense here; that thing is just a card with shades and slots. Why not make your own with your own pencils, shaded and blended exactly your way? Could even do it on each type of paper you use and eliminate the extra step of comparing the scale to your own marks each time.

[@RixCanDoit]

Been there, done that. But the video was about how to use as opposed to 'how to save $'. :-)

[@TheChameleon2008]

or just print one out and cut some holes :)

[@annabiing2570]

colors and values are different things and not to be confused :)

[@RixCanDoit]

Right. We're dealing with tones.

[@koffeekage]

Black on this is nowhere near black paint.

[@RixCanDoit]

You'll probably be hard pressed to draw black as paint.

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

2B or not 2B. That is the question.

[@RixCanDoit]

No, that's the pencil. The question is, "where, o where, has my little dog gone?". It's never been answered fully. ;-b

[@HScorching]

Thanks for the video. I actually have mine on top of my computer. At least now I know how to use it.