Black is neither a tint nor a shade. Black is considered a neutral color or an achromatic color. A tint is created when white is added to a pure hue, which lightens the color. A shade is created when black is added to a pure hue, which darkens the color. Since black contains no hue, it cannot be lightened into a tint or darkened into a shade.
Defining tints and shades
In color theory, a tint is made by mixing a pure hue with white. This increases the lightness and decreases the colorfulness or saturation of the original hue. Common examples of tints include pink (red + white), baby blue (blue + white), and peach (orange + white). Adding white moves a color towards the white end of the spectrum while retaining some of the original hue.
A shade is made by mixing a pure color with black. This decreases the lightness and increases the colorfulness of the original hue. Common examples of shades include burgundy (red + black), navy blue (blue + black), and forest green (green + black). Adding black moves a color towards the black end of the spectrum while retaining some of the original hue.
Therefore, tints are lighter, softer versions of a pure hue while shades are darker, richer versions. Tinting and shading are ways to subtly alter a color. This helps create variation and visual interest in designs.
The special case of black
Black is not considered a color on the visible spectrum. Black absorbs all wavelengths of light which gives it an absence of hue. White light contains all the colors of the spectrum, while black contains none. This makes black an achromatic, neutral color.
With no hue to alter, black cannot be made into a tint or shade. Adding white to black just increasingly lightens it to gray. Adding black to black has no effect. Therefore, black sits outside the realm of tints and shades.
Black on the color wheel
On the standard color wheel, black sits opposite of white as a neutral color. The color wheel arranges colors in a spectrum according to their hue and warmth. Black and white do not have a warmth or hue to place them on the wheel.
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Black | Absorbs all light, an absence of color |
| White | Reflects all light, a combination of all colors |
Some color wheels place black and white in the center as anchoring neutral colors. Other color wheels exclude black and white altogether since they are void of hue and warmth. Regardless, black sits outside the range of chromatic base colors that create tints and shades.
Uses for black in color mixing
While black is not a shade itself, adding black to colors is an important way to darken hues. In printing, adding black to a color creates a richer, darker CMYK variation called a process color. For example:
| Color | CMYK Mix |
|---|---|
| Pure Blue | 100C, 100M, 0Y, 0K |
| Dark Blue | 100C, 100M, 0Y, 40K |
The black (K) added to the blue darkens it into a shade-like color. This is an essential process in printing color graphics and photos realistically.
In painting, adding black to a color is a way to subtly darken and mute it. This creates softer, more neutral and natural tones. For example, adding a touch of black to red gives a burgundy tone. Black is the most useful color for subtly adjusting other colors for shading effects.
Key characteristics of black and white
Below is a summary of the main qualities of black and white:
| Black | White |
|---|---|
| – Neutral achromatic color – Absorbs all visible wavelengths of light – Has no hue or warmth – Cannot be lightened into a tint – Darkens colors when mixed into shades |
– Neutral achromatic color – Reflects all visible wavelengths of light – Has no hue or warmth – Cannot be darkened into a shade – Lightens colors when mixed into tints |
This summarizes why black and white are excluded from the color wheel and do not qualify as either tints or shades.
Psychology of black and white
Black and white have unique psychological effects from being neutral, extreme colors.
Black is associated with power, elegance, and mystery. It evokes a sense of weight, formality, and solemnity. Black can convey prestige and sophistication but also mourning and evil. It is the color of night, secret societies, anarchy, and the unknown.
White represents purity, innocence, and simplicity. It gives a sense of space, neutrality, and sterility. White evokes cleanliness and light but can also feel stark and isolating. It is the color of perfection, unity, and divinity.
Due to their shared neutrality and balance, black and white work strikingly well together. They create bold, instantly recognizable contrasts playing light against dark. Black text on white paper maximizes legibility. Black and white imagery has a classic, timeless style.
How black and white interact
Black and white represent visual opposites which causes them to strongly contrast. In design, black and white patterns and pairings draw attention with their high drama and visual vibrancy. They create clearly delineated shapes that pop distinctively.
When interacting, black overwhelms white, so white elements will stand out prominently on black. Meanwhile, black elements can disappear and look ragged against white, so they require definition through outlines or thickening. strategically balancing black and white creates clean, articulate designs.
Conclusion
Black is not a tint or shade. As neutral colors without hue, black and white exist outside the color wheel. Black absorbs light while white reflects light which causes them to starkly contrast in dramatic ways. While they do not lighten or darken into tints and shades, black and white are incredibly useful for mixing with colors to generate shades and tints.