Color Terminology Glossary
Understand the Language of Color
Learn key color terms like hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, gamut, and more in this easy-to-understand glossary for designers and developers
This glossary helps you understand the essential terms used in color theory, design, accessibility, and digital imaging.
🎨 A–Z Glossary of Color Terms
Additive Color
A color model where colors are created by adding light, such as RGB. More light = lighter result.
Brightness
Often interchangeable with "value" or "lightness." Refers to how much light a color emits or reflects.
Chroma
The purity or strength of a color. A color with low chroma appears dull or grayish.
CMYK
A subtractive color model used for printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Mixes pigments instead of light.
Color Gamut
The full range of colors a device or color model can display or print.
Color Profile
A data file (like ICC) that defines how colors appear on a specific device or medium.
Contrast
The difference in luminance or color between two elements. High contrast improves readability and accessibility.
Desaturation
The process of reducing a color's intensity. A fully desaturated color becomes grayscale.
HSL
A color model based on Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Common in design software and CSS.
HSV
Hue, Saturation, and Value. A color model designed for intuitive brightness adjustments.
Hue
The basic "type" of color on the color wheel—red, blue, green, etc. Measured in degrees (0–360°).
Lightness
In HSL, refers to how light or dark a color is. 0% = black, 100% = white, 50% = "true" color.
Monochromatic
A color scheme using only variations (tints, shades, tones) of a single hue.
Opacity
The level of transparency of a color. 0% = fully transparent; 100% = fully opaque.
Primary Colors
The base colors from which others are derived. RGB (additive), RYB (traditional), or CMY (printing).
RGB
An additive model based on combining Red, Green, and Blue light. Used in digital screens.
Saturation
Intensity or vividness of a color. 0% = gray, 100% = full color.
Shade
A color mixed with black, making it darker.
Tint
A color mixed with white, making it lighter.
Tone
A color mixed with gray (or both black and white), softening the original hue.
Transparency
Similar to opacity; the ability to see through a color layer.
Value
Refers to a color's perceived brightness. In HSV, it directly controls how "light" or "dark" the color appears.
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines—standards that define acceptable contrast ratios and color usage for readability.
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