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Color Theory Terms

Hue & Saturation

  • The term “hue” is often used as a simile for the term color.

  • 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).

  • For example, the hue of navy is blue.

    • The hue of burgundy is red.

    • The hue of sap green is green.

  • Saturation: a measure of how pure a color is.

    • 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).

Value

  • Value: how light or dark the color is, on a scale of black to white.

  • Value is widely considered to be one of the most important variables to the success of a painting.

  • It is widely considered by artists that value is more important than the color used in a painting.

    • This is because value really sets the structure of your painting.

Shades, Tints, & Tones

  • Shade: a color plus black.

    • One can get a range of shades by adding varying levels of black.

  • Tint: a color plus white.

    • One can get a range of tints by adding varying levels of white.

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

    • In many cases, artists use tone to describe a color which has been grayed down (de-saturated).

Color Temperature

  • The color wheel is divided into warm and cool colors.

  • When a warm color is placed next to a cool color, there is a very strong contrast.

  • Alternatively, when a cool color is placed next to another cool color (for example, green next to blue) there is a pleasing harmonious effect.

  • Warm colors: traditionally indicate activity and light.

  • Cool colors: indicate calm, distant and soothing environments.

  • White, black and gray are generally considered neutral colors.

Color Theory Terms

Hue & Saturation

  • The term “hue” is often used as a simile for the term color.

  • 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).

  • For example, the hue of navy is blue.

    • The hue of burgundy is red.

    • The hue of sap green is green.

  • Saturation: a measure of how pure a color is.

    • 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).

Value

  • Value: how light or dark the color is, on a scale of black to white.

  • Value is widely considered to be one of the most important variables to the success of a painting.

  • It is widely considered by artists that value is more important than the color used in a painting.

    • This is because value really sets the structure of your painting.

Shades, Tints, & Tones

  • Shade: a color plus black.

    • One can get a range of shades by adding varying levels of black.

  • Tint: a color plus white.

    • One can get a range of tints by adding varying levels of white.

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

    • In many cases, artists use tone to describe a color which has been grayed down (de-saturated).

Color Temperature

  • The color wheel is divided into warm and cool colors.

  • When a warm color is placed next to a cool color, there is a very strong contrast.

  • Alternatively, when a cool color is placed next to another cool color (for example, green next to blue) there is a pleasing harmonious effect.

  • Warm colors: traditionally indicate activity and light.

  • Cool colors: indicate calm, distant and soothing environments.

  • White, black and gray are generally considered neutral colors.

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