Colour Terminology

Understanding and utilizing colour effectively comes more easily to some people than to others. However, one thing is certain. The study of colour deserves attention. Colour is a powerful and highly provocative design element. It is difficult to control when producing an original work, and it is even more difficult when work is reproduced in print or viewed on a computer screen.

To fully understand colour, you must first understand the terminology associated with colour.

Hue: The name of the colour (such as red, blue, green, yellow, etc.) is its hue.
Value: The range of lightness or darkness (such as a light green to a dark green) is the value of colour. Shade, tone, and tint are various aspects of value.
Saturation: The brightness or dullness of a colour [such as bright red (100%) or dull red (10%)] is saturation. Chroma and intensity are synonyms for saturation.