def create_values(self, value_names):
        """Read original values from the settings or the defaults.

        Parameters
        ----------
        value_names : list of str
            list of value names to read

        Returns
        -------
        dict
            dictionary with the value names as keys
        """
        output = {}
        for value_name in value_names:
            output[value_name] = read_settings(self.widget, value_name)

        return output