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Colour - Without Colour!

Thoughtfully used, Neutrals can often create the same emotive effects as colours.

	Shock Tactics (peak tonal impact) Black and White in dazzle shapes and patterns can create an effect of Shock Tactics. Light and dark contrasts in photos are called tonality. High contrasts of Black against White with no, or few intermediate tones (half-tones), can produce startling results. Colour schemes with extremes of light and dark can also have peak impact and appear violent. Splinter patterns, radiating lines and Op effects increase the 'explosiveness' of the impact.
	Bold Tonality (high tonal impact) Here are large areas of dark and light in strong but not violent contrasts. Proportions are grand as in the Golden Section, which gives bold varieties in the contrasts of size of the areas one against another. A carefully judged proportion of intermediate greys will give stability to the Black and White, helping to create the impression of shapes charged with latent power.
	Tonal Ingenuity ( medium impact ) Lesser and more subtle contrasts of light and dark can create effects of elegance and ingenuity. Against large areas of very low contrast you can set small shapes in very high tonal contrast to produce focuses. Moreover, if the small focal areas are graded into those of first, second and third importance, the effect will be to create a work of real tonal intricacy. The result can convey a lot of visual data expressed with a high degree of sophistication.
	Harmonies and Ambiguities of Tone (low impact) To be soft and atmospheric the tones need to be very close together on a finely calibrated tonal gradient. In the hands of an artist this can create an all-over harmonious effect. Often the high complexity that is possible at this level can break down into vagueness and chaos. Ambiguity can prove useful in expressing the inscrutible. Such effects as these can be not only dreamy, because of their mysterious and esoteric character, but also convey a subliminal message.

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