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Contrast, and why it reads as expensive

Lesson 3 of 27 in Colour.

Didot · Cerita Kelly

Lesson

In a palette, contrast is the distance in value between the lightest colour and the darkest.

The same text at three contrast ratios against one ground.

Two sheets with the same thick and thin ornament, crisp on smooth white paper and blotted on rough grey paper, with magnifying circles over the thin strokes. — The same fine mark printed on good paper and on cheap paper. Cheap presses filled in thin lines, so crisp contrast became a sign of money.

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Question 1, locked
Which change would increase a palette's contrast, in the sense the lesson uses the word?
- Swap one colour for another hue of the same lightness
- Add a fourth hue that sits at a middle lightness
- Raise the saturation of every colour by the same amount
- Make the lightest colour lighter and the darkest darker
Question 2, locked
A designer is torn between a palette of five mid-tones and one with a very light value and a very dark one. Which reads as more considered?
- The five mid-tones, since more colours look richer
- Neither, as palettes do not affect perceived quality
- The very light and very dark pair
- The mid-tones, as long as one of them is gold
Question 3, locked
A palette's teal and coral look nothing alike on screen. How does the lesson say to check whether they will separate in use?
- Set them side by side and compare how far apart the hues are
- Print them both on good paper and compare them in daylight
- Desaturate the palette and see if they become the same grey
- Raise the saturation of one until the two of them clash

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