The Sheen of Velvet: Two Colors on the Same Fabric

A close-up of a velvet sofa, showcasing the material's most crucial characteristic: the direction of the pile determines the color. The same fabric, when viewed with the pile, appears bright and lustrous in a light shade; when viewed against the pile, it appears rich, deep, and almost black. Therefore, the indentations of the seat cushions, the wrinkles of the throw pillows, and the turns of the armrests all show continuously changing shades, making the fabric appear both luminous and light-absorbing. Traces left by a hand stroking it are still visible. The color is deep emerald green or burgundy. Paired with slender brass legs and a plain rug. Light comes from the side, making the directional nature of the pile most evident. Avoid: depicting velvet as a flat, uniform color block, using glossy satin instead of velvet, eliminating the variations in shade at the wrinkles, using uniform frontal lighting.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一張天鵝絨沙發的近景,展示這種材料最關鍵的特性:絨毛的方向決定顏色。同一塊布料,順著絨毛看過去的區域呈現明亮的、帶絲光的淺色調;逆著絨毛的區域則濃郁、深沉、近乎黑。因此坐墊的凹陷處、抱枕的褶皺、扶手的轉折全部呈現連續變化的深淺,布料看起來像會發光又像吸光。手撫過留下的痕跡仍然可見。顏色是深祖母綠或酒紅。搭配黃銅的細腳與一塊素色地毯。光從側面來,讓絨毛的方向性最明顯。避免:把天鵝絨畫成平面均勻的色塊、使用有光澤的緞面取代絨面、消除褶皺處的深淺變化、使用正面均勻打光。