In color theory, there are three main attributes that define a color: hue, value, and chroma. Understanding the differences between these three characteristics can help artists and designers select and use color more effectively in their work.
Hue
Hue refers to the dominant wavelength of light that our eyes perceive as color. It is what we commonly think of as the “color” – whether something appears red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, etc. On the color wheel, hue is represented by the location around the circumference. For example, red and yellow have very different hues, while a lemon yellow and canary yellow have similar hues.
Some key things to understand about hue:
- Hue distinguishes one color family from another – red from orange from yellow, etc.
- It is independent of lightness and saturation.
- The primary hues are red, blue and yellow. Mixing together primary hues creates secondary (orange, green, purple) and tertiary hues.
- Analogous hues sit next to each other on the color wheel, like blue and blue-green.
- Complementary hues sit opposite each other, like red and green.
Being able to manipulate hue is foundational for combining colors harmoniously. Understanding the relationships between different hues allows artists to make informed choices about color mixing and color schemes.
Value
Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It describes how light or dark a hue appears, ranging from black (darkest value) to white (lightest value). On a value scale, value distinguishes light, medium, and dark colors.
Some key things about value:
- Value is independent of hue. Any hue can be lightened or darkened.
- Higher value colors appear lighter, closer to white. Lower value colors appear darker, closer to black.
- Value creates contrast between lights and darks.
- Value helps convey depth, shadows and highlights in an image.
- A full value scale progresses gradually from black to white through dark, medium and light greys.
Being able to manipulate value is critical for depicting light and conveying form. Value contrasts help guide the viewer’s eye throughout a composition. Understanding how to mix colors to achieve different values allows for greater realism and impact.
Chroma
Chroma refers to the saturation or intensity of a color. It describes how vivid, strong or dull a color appears. On a chroma scale, chroma distinguishes strong from weak color.
Some key aspects of chroma:
- Chroma is independent of hue and value.
- Higher chroma colors are more saturated, intense, pure versions of the hue.
- Lower chroma colors are more grayish, muted, dusty versions of the hue.
- Mixing a hue with gray reduces its chroma towards black, white or grey.
- Complementary colors have higher chroma contrast.
Manipulating chroma allows artists to make colors pop or tone them down as needed. Vibrant color schemes rely on higher chroma colors, while more subdued color schemes use lower chroma colors. Understanding chroma helps balance intensity, focus the composition and convey mood.
How Hue, Value and Chroma Interact
In practical use, hue, value and chroma interact with each other to define a color. Here are some key ways they work together:
- While hue gives the color its essential “colorness”, value and chroma modify the hue to specify the actual color used.
- Changing just one attribute varies the color – changing two attributes alters it even more.
- With higher chroma, hues look more vibrant and saturated. With lower chroma, hues become muted and greyed.
- Dark values lower chroma, making colors less vibrant. Light values heighten chroma, making colors more saturated.
- Analogous hues work well in high chroma color schemes. Complementary hues work well in low chroma schemes.
Understanding these interactions allows for mixing more nuanced colors with greater intentionality. For example, an intense, vivid red needs a high value and chroma. A dusty pale red needs a light value and low chroma. Manipulating all three attributes creates a wide palette of possibilities.
Color Models
There are various color models that represent the relationships between hues, values and chroma in different ways:
RYB (Red Yellow Blue)
The RYB color model is a traditional, subtractive color model based on red, yellow and blue primary pigment colors. It is commonly used by artists and designers working with paint, dyes, inks, etc. In RYB:
- The primary hues are red, yellow and blue.
- Mixing primaries creates secondary and tertiary hues like orange, green, purple.
- Value is adjusted by adding white/black.
- Chroma is adjusted by adding grey.
RGB (Red Green Blue)
The RGB model is an additive color model using red, green and blue light primaries. It is used for computer screens, televisions, digital cameras, etc. that mix colored lights to create a range of hues. In RGB:
- The primaries are red, green and blue light.
- Mixing RGB primaries creates secondary cyan, magenta, yellow.
- Value is adjusted by adding more or less of R, G, B primaries.
- Chroma is adjusted by adding white light.
CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black)
CMYK is a subtractive color model for print production. Cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks are applied to absorb and subtract certain color wavelengths. In CMYK:
- The primaries are cyan, magenta and yellow print inks.
- Black ink is added for density and controlling value.
- Decreasing ink percentages lightens value.
- Grey component replaces chromatic inks to reduce chroma.
HSV/HSB (Hue Saturation Value/Brightness)
HSV and HSB are color pickers displaying hue, saturation and value/brightness. They segregate hue from the color attributes and allow users to adjust them independently. In HSV/HSB:
- Hue is adjusted around a wheel or spectrum bar.
- Saturation/chroma increases towards center or top.
- Value/brightness increases vertically.
This separation of variables allows direct manipulation of each attribute as needed for a given color selection task.
Using Hue, Value, Chroma in Art and Design
Understanding hue, value and chroma gives artists and designers greater ability to:
- Mix more nuanced colors by adjusting all three attributes.
- Create color harmony through schemes using hue relationships.
- Use value contrast to depict light, shadow, forms and composition.
- Make colors pop or subdue them by manipulating chroma.
- Target colors precisely for reproduction across media using color models.
Some examples of utilizing hue, value and chroma include:
- Painting realistic skin tones by layering variations of reddish hues in different values.
- Composing a landscape with atmospheric perspective using lower chroma blues in the distance.
- Designing a vibrant poster using high chroma primary hues.
- Mixing a moody, de-saturated palette for a grungy stylized illustration.
- Photoshopping an image using HSB sliders to select and alter colors.
Learning to create, adjust, and apply colors by manipulating hue, value and chroma gives artists great flexibility and control over their visual effects. Mastering these foundational principles helps elevate work to the next level.
Conclusion
Hue, value and chroma are essential characteristics defining all colors used in art and design. Hue distinguishes one color from another, value controls lightness and darkness, and chroma determines saturation and intensity. These attributes interact to create all possible colors. Understanding how to manipulate hue, value and chroma allows artists to mix more nuanced colors, control color relationships, and achieve their desired visual effects. Color theory based on these principles provides a foundation for visual communication and expression across all media.