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Value Study: art reference

Value Study: art reference

Drawing Grid & Simplify Shapes

3.4K ratings
201 reviews
#157 in top-grossing Graphics & Design
📷 Photo & Video
🎨 Graphics & Design
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
January 13, 2021
Updated
November 1, 2026

Features

Developer

Diem Limited
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Value Study: art reference screenshot #1 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #2 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #3 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #4 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #5 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #6 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
🧾$2.99 - $24.99
In-App Purchase↘︎
📈no. 157
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📌Ready
Reviews summary↘︎
⭐201
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❓8 answered
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About

This app helps artists improve their drawing and painting skills by simplifying reference images into greyscale tones. It allows users to break down complex images into distinct value levels, making it easier to understand light, shadow, and form.

✓Simplify images into greyscale tones
✓Adjustable number of value levels
✓Highlight areas of the same value
✓Focus on light, shadow, and form
✓Enhance traditional art studies
✓Cross-device compatibility
Show original description

What users say about Value Study

Reviews of Value Study are mostly positive: the Graphics & Design app is rated 4.8/5 from 3.4K App Store ratings. What users like most: easy to use, helpful for value studies. Top complaints: issues with accurately representing blue hues, difficulty finding/importing photos. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • 👍Easy to use
  • 🚀Helpful for value studies
  • 💡Allows adjusting number of values
  • 🎨Useful for artists and painters
  • ⭐Great tool for beginners
  • 👍Simple and straightforward

Negative things

  • 🐛Issues with accurately representing blue hues
  • 🔍Difficulty finding/importing photos
  • 🤔Unclear instructions/lack of tutorial
See all reviews

What's New in Value Study

5.2.0

November 1, 2026

Bug fixes and improvements, plus a freshened up main menu. Questions, feedback or bugs? Email shane@valuestudy.app

More
19

Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Value Study Pro

Yearly subscription to Value Study Pro

$7.991 Year
Price Updates
November 3, 2026→$7.99
June 12, 2026→$3.99
May 26, 2026→$2.99
February 8, 2026→$2.99
January 31, 2025→$1.99
June 16, 2024→$0.99
How to cancel Value Study subscription ⁉️

Charts

Top Grossing

📈 157+3

Graphics & Design

This app rose +3 positions in Graphics & Design chart.

Last updated on November 14, 2026.

Top Free

📉 160-8

Graphics & Design

This app dropped -8 positions in Graphics & Design chart.

Last updated on November 14, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Fun and useful

I am still mostly a beginner with visual arts. This tool has fascinated me and inspired me. I love doing value studies without color. It’s liberating. I can’t wait to use this app again and again. This tool has also helped with how I treat the values in my color paintings as well. I can up load a color painting, make it a black, white, and gray value painting and truly see where the values sit with the piece
Show more
SSlowdub

Indispensable

Simple, easy, effective.
LLadysmyth2

Artist must. Top app and evolving

The app was fantastic since the beginning. Extremely useful. The author recently added awesome features. This app is the top one an artist needs
VVariscol

Too complicated

This app may be good for someone who is a tech wizard, but I’m an artist—this just confused me.
FFarfar-David

Wonderful app for artists.

I use Value Study in designing my multi-block linocut prints. Shane, the developer has created an extremely useful tool, so much better than posterizing in other apps. And he is extremely responsive in adjusting to meet my needs as an artist.
MAMicael and Ann
See 196 more reviews

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User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

2 issues

App crashes or fails to launch on some devices

Bug

Occasional issues with image processing

Bug
✨

Requested Features

4 requests

Add ability to adjust value midpoint

Feature

Include color study/color adjustment options

Feature

Provide side-by-side comparison of original and simplified images

Feature

Add customizable grid overlay

Feature

FAQ

What is Value Study?

Value Study is a tool designed to help artists improve their understanding of light and shadow by simplifying reference images into greyscale tones. It allows you to break down complex images into distinct value levels, aiding in the study of form and depth.

How does Value Study help artists?

It assists artists in practicing value studies, which are essential for understanding how light falls on objects and how to represent shadows and highlights. By simplifying images, it makes it easier to see subtle shifts in tone and focus on fundamental artistic principles.

What are the pricing options for Value Study Pro?

Value Study offers a yearly subscription for $7.99, which auto-renews annually. There is also a lifetime purchase option for a one-time payment, unlocking all features permanently across all your devices.

Does Value Study have ads?

No, Value Study does not contain advertisements. The app is free to try with sample images, and full functionality can be unlocked through a one-time purchase or subscription.

On which devices can I use Value Study?

Value Study is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Your Pro upgrade is a lifetime purchase and will unlock the app's full features across all these supported devices.

What is the update frequency for Value Study?

The app was last updated on November 1, 2026, indicating a recent update. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, this suggests ongoing development and support for the application.

What do users like most about Value Study?

User reviews highlight that Value Study is easy to use, helpful for value studies, and allows for adjusting the number of values. It's frequently praised as a great tool for beginners and artists/painters for its simple and straightforward functionality.

Are there any reported issues with Value Study?

Some users have reported issues with accurately representing blue hues and difficulties in finding or importing photos. There have also been comments about unclear instructions or a lack of a tutorial, though the overall sentiment remains positive.