Search over 1.4 million articles by over 600 experts
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Art History

More from About.com

Browse Topics A-Z

"tone"

By Shelley Esaak, About.com

Definition:

(noun) - Tone is a quality of color. It has to do with whether or not a color is warm or cold, bright or dull, light or dim and pure or "otherwise" (not wishing to to slap the perceived moral judgment of impure on a hapless color). You've most likely heard the phrase "Tone it down". In art, this means to make a color, or an overall color scheme, less vibrant. Conversely, "toning it up" can cause colors to pop out of a piece, sometimes to a rather startling extent.

Pronunciation: toen

Examples: "Tone it DOWN!" - Your Art History Guide, to offspring running amok

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Art History
  4. Art History 101
  5. Art History Glossary
  6. Words Beginning With T
  7. Art History Glossary - T - tone

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.