The understanding of the four aspects of color—hue, saturation, lightness, and hue—has developed over the centuries, but the systematic understanding and modern classification of these aspects emerged in the context of color science and color theory during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the field of design, art, and color theory, these terms are fundamental to understanding how we perceive colors and how they can be manipulated to achieve specific visual effects. Memorize them, and put them into practice.
These characteristics are what allow us to create an infinite range of colors from a few basic tones. In graphic design, photography or painting, understanding how to handle these aspects is key to generating visual and emotional effects.
Hue
Hue is what we normally think of as "color" itself. It is the basic aspect of color, what distinguishes red from blue, green from yellow, etc. It refers to the wavelength of the light we see, which in turn depends on the frequency of that light.
On a color wheel, hue is represented in a circle and is a way of organizing primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Hues are measured in degrees within a circle, from 0° (red), 120° (green), 240° (blue), and so on.
Saturation
Saturation indicates the intensity or purity of a color. A highly saturated color is bright and vivid, while a color with low saturation appears dull or grayish.
When a color is desaturated, we add white, black, or gray to it, which decreases its intensity and makes it "dirtier" or duller. A completely desaturated color is gray, which has no tone or intensity.
- High saturation: a pure and vivid color (bright red, electric blue).
- Low saturation: a softer, pastel or greyish colour (dull red, washed out blue).
High saturation image example
Low saturation image example
Luminosity (or "Value" )
Lightness refers to the **amount of light** a color reflects. In other words, it's how light or dark a color appears. A color with high lightness is light (like yellow or light pink), while one with low lightness is dark (like black, navy blue, or dark green).
Lightness can be adjusted by adding white (to lighten the color) or black (to darken it). This determines whether a color appears "bright" or "gloomy."
- High luminosity: light colours (light yellow, light blue).
- Low light: dark colors (brown, navy blue).
High brightness image example
Low light image example
Hue
Sometimes synonymous with "hue," hue is not always considered a stand-alone aspect, but in some contexts is used to refer to the variation in color within a specific hue. It is a way of shading or changing a color by adding different mixtures of other colors. In more technical usage, hue refers to the subtle nuances within a hue that vary depending on its saturation and lightness.
For example, a "tinted red" might refer to a red with a hint of blue or yellow that slightly changes its original hue.
