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Totally agree, it’s odd when the template forgets spots, but your call to fill those patches with blak really grounds the reflections and makes the flow look betetr :)
That black also helps ti;e the cool and warm zones so the eye doesn’t wander.
Sometimes the numbers lag behind what the scene actually needs.
Will you trust your eye like this in the next study too?

Will you trust your eye like this in the next study too?

Probably but I hope that next set will have all areas numbered already.

Makes sense. Even if everything's numbered, that black move kept the values tight and gave the reflections a clean edge, so keep that instinct in your pocket, not to fight the the plan but to fix gaps fast. If the numers are complete next time, great. If not, your eye already balanced it well, so dont stress :)