Value: Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. Here are some hints to making tints and shades with colored pencils.

These are some of the values of violet.

Control the Pressure
An easy way to show different values of a color is to press harder or more lightly with your pencil.

Practice coloring light to dark and dark to light to teach your hand how hard to press.

Blending Shades and Tints
You can show different values by blending tints and shades with your colored pencils.

Make a Shade
To make a darker value or shade, first color lightly with black. Then color over the black with a color of your choice.

Experiment with how much black and how much color you need to get the value you want. It changes depending on the color you're using. You can add more black on top to make it darker.

If black doesn't give you the look you want, try blending with other colors. Colored pencils come in many different values. Here light pink and dark pink Foohy® pencils are blended to make a medium pink.

Make a Tint
To make a lighter value or tint, first color firmly with white. You won't be able to see the white on white paper so watch where you are coloring! Then color lightly over the white with a color of your choice. Experiment with how much white and color you need to get the value you want. You can also use the white of your paper to make tints—just color lightly!

Once you know how to blend shades and tints with your colored pencils, try "Making Forms: 3D Shapes!"