Tonal values

[Ray3]

I have just read an interesting article about "tonal values" we usually use a greyscale sheet to see where the tones are well it suggests using a piece of red acetate or red cellophane place on the colour photo and this gives you the tonal value to use when starting to paint   Just thought it might be of use I know I will be trying it out. Ray

[dennis]

I have a red acetate sheet (A4 size) which  I occasionally use - it works to a degree.

However, if you have a software (Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact, etc) that can change your photograph into a black and white, then you you have the best of both worlds because the b/w will show you all the subtle tonal ranges which don't normally show up clearly in the red acetate sheet.