ABSTRACT
Tone is the easiest visual component to explain and understand. Tone refers to the brightness of objects. The range of tones from black to white can be organized on a gray scale. There are three ways to control the tone or brightness of objects in a shot: art direction, lighting, and exposure. The brightness range of a picture can be controlled by the actual reflectance value of objects in the shot. This puts the tonal control entirely in the hands of the art director and costume designer. Coincidence and non-coincidence of tone refers to the relationship between the subject and the tonal organization of shot. Coincidence of tone occurs when the tonal range reveals the subject. Non-coincidence occurs when the tonal range hides the subject. Contrast & affinity of tone are easy to understand because the gray scale organizes tone so perfectly. Maximum contrast of tone is jet black and bright white. Contrast of any visual component creates visual intensity.
