Color Theory Terms

Saturation

Saturation

________: a measure of how pure a color is.

Tone

________: a broad term used to describe a color which is not a pure hue and is not black or white.

neutral colors

White, black and gray are generally considered ________.

Hue

generally refers to the dominant wavelength of color out of the twelve colors on the color wheel (being the primary, secondary and tertiary colors)

Saturation

a measure of how pure a color is

Value

how light or dark the color is, on a scale of black to white

Shade

a color plus black

Tint

a color plus white

Tone

a broad term used to describe a color which is not a pure hue and is not black or white

Warm colors

traditionally indicate activity and light

Cool colors

indicate calm, distant and soothing environments

The term “hue” is often used as

a simile for the term color.

You can reduce the saturation of a color by

adding gray or a color on the opposite side of the color wheel (which essentially kills the color).