Pastel

soft powdery pigment, rubbing, and blending

Visual traits

• soft powdery pigment
• rubbing
• and blending

Expected changes

• The image more clearly shows soft powdery pigment, rubbing, and blending

Definition

Pastel is a dry coloring material that specifies soft powdery pigment, rubbing, and blending as one image-control axis. It does not determine subject, composition, era, or creator.

In more detail

The image is structured through soft powdery pigment, rubbing, and blending. Adjacent material, medium, process, and finished-appearance elements remain independently combinable, and named works or brands are outside its scope.

Includes

• soft powdery pigment, rubbing, and blending

Excludes

• A named creator, work, or brand
• Automatic choice of subject or composition

What this does not imply

• A particular subject, composition, or creator

Variability

Strength varies with accompanying medium, color, lighting, and detail directions.

Usage

• Add after the subject as an independent visual axis

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify adjacent material, medium, process, or finished appearance separately when needed

Typical uses

• People, animals, or landscapes with pastel characteristics

Possible failure modes

• The label is treated decoratively without the defining visual traits