If We Look analytically at any given color—the red of an apple, for instance—we discover that it possesses three outstanding qualities: hue, value and chroma.

Hue, in non-technical language, is that quality by which we recognize one color from another. We can state this as an equation: Hue = name. The apple is red; red is the hue or name of the color. We alter the hue of a color whenever we mix another color with it; if we mix yellow paint with red paint it gives us orange paint—this is a change in hue.

Value is the quality by which we discern lightness or darkness in a color—by which we discriminate between light red and dark red. By mixing a color with something lighter or darker than itself we change its value. If we mix white or black with a color we alter its value but not its hue.

Chroma, as used by painters, relates to strength, some1 colors being strong and some weak. If we remark that an object is "colorful" or "vivid" we usually refer to its chroma. White, black and grays have no chroma. If we mix one color with another which tends to gray it, we lower its chroma. We can change a color's chroma without changing its value or hue by adding neutral gray of the same value.

Many such terms are, unfortunately, very loosely used. This is true of the word "tone." This may refer to any area of light and dark or of color. It may be the color which modifies a hue or white or black—hence mixed colors are often called tones. We say that a painting has tone, commonly implying harmony.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...