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: 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.

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).

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.