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Value Study: art reference

Value Study: art reference

Analyze light and shadow

3.3K ratings
198 reviews
📷 Photo & Video
🎨 Graphics & Design
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • January 13, 2021
  • August 3, 2026

Features

Developer

Diem Limited
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Value Study: art reference screenshot #1 for iPhone
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Value Study: art reference screenshot #5 for iPhone
Value Study: art reference screenshot #6 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
🧾$2.99 - $24.99
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About

This app helps artists improve their skills by analyzing light and shadow in reference images. It allows users to break down tones step-by-step, from simple black and white to more complex value ranges, aiding in the understanding of depth and form. It's a tool to enhance traditional art studies.

✓Step-by-step tone breakdown
✓Highlighting areas of same value
✓Focus on light, shadow, and form
✓Greyscale value studies
✓Works with reference images
Show original description

What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of Value Study. Based on 3.3K reviews and a 4.8/5 average, it highlights the 6 positives and 3 negatives reviewers mention most about this Graphics & Design app.

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

4.1.2

August 3, 2026

This update should fix the crashes some of you have been experiencing. It also brings back the Combine Values tool. I underestimated how useful it was, particularly for linocut and block printing. While the histogram offers more control, Combine Values is often quicker and more convenient to use, so it is back! Don't forget, you can star it from the Tools menu to add it to the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Questions, feedback or bugs? Email shane@valuestudy.app

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Subscription plans

Value Study Pro

Yearly subscription to Value Study Pro

$3.991 Year
Price Updates
September 10, 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 ⁉️
10

In-App Purchases

$9.99

Value Study Pro (Lifetime)

Unlock the full power of Value Study

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Indispensable

Simple, easy, effective.
Ladysmyth2Ladysmyth2

Too complicated

This app may be good for someone who is a tech wizard, but I’m an artist—this just confused me.
Farfar-DavidFarfar-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.
Micael and AnnMicael and Ann

A Creator who Cares

This is an excellent app for artists and photographers—it’s helped my paintings immensely, making compositional design much clearer and easier. I’ll add that I encountered a minor problem with live view crashes, I messaged the creator, and within a couple of weeks he fixed it—and emailed me personally to let me know. That kind of dedication is worth five stars in itself.
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starzineyesstarzineyes

Good Value Study ap

Really like the app as long as it’s on no simplification. If I use the simplification part of the app, it’s very distorted. Without the simplification on it is a great app
HilhosHilhos
See 193 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 mobile application designed to help artists analyze light and shadow in their reference images. It assists in understanding how light falls on objects and how to represent depth and form by breaking down tones into greyscale values.

How does Value Study help artists?

It aids artists in improving their drawing and painting skills by facilitating value studies. Users can break down reference images into distinct tonal ranges, from simple black and white to more nuanced values, making it easier to grasp the fundamentals of light, shadow, and form.

What are the pricing options for Value Study?

The app can be tried for free with all features enabled on sample images. To unlock the full app for personal images, users can choose between a low-cost yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. All 'Pro' upgrades are considered lifetime purchases.

What devices is Value Study compatible with?

Value Study Pro upgrades are unlocked across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. This allows users to utilize the app's features on their preferred Apple platform for art creation and study.

Can I use my own photos with Value Study?

Yes, after trying the app for free with sample images, you can unlock the full functionality to analyze your own reference images. This allows for personalized studies based on your chosen subjects, whether for sketching, painting, or digital art.