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The Intensity or Saturation of a Color

The Intensity or Saturation of a Color

When one speaks of the intensity of a color the words saturation and chroma are often used, as well. The chroma, intensity, or saturation of a color or pigment refers to its strength or purity.

 Tube colors consisting of a single pigment are the richest in intensity.  Once another color is added to a mixture, the subsequent colors are diminished in purity.  One can check on the purity of a pigment by looking at the back or side of a tube of paint where it lists the contents of the mixture.  The tube below shows a pigment mixture of PR#108 & PO#20, thus it is a composite mixture of a red/orange.  Not all manufacturers list their ingredients; however, contacting the manufacturer can be helpful.  The Gamblin Artists Colors Company is particularly helpful and they offer a DVD, Navigating Color Space which is an invaluable learning tool.  Go to www.gamblincolors.com.

  Colors can be desaturated in four ways: adding to a color its  compliment, the color opposite to it on the color wheel, adding a cool color into a warm color, mixing a black and white to create a gray and then adding color back into the gray, or simply adding black to a color. Grayed down colors, sometimes referred to as colors lower in chroma are beautiful in their own right, but when placed beside a purer color, the grayed colors help to make the highly chromatic colors sing!  Below are charts suggesting some of the ways colors can be desaturated, lowered in chroma or lowered in intensity.

Exploring color combinations on your own is a good way to expand your knowledge of color and to see what exciting treasures your particular palette holds for you and your viewers.

Happy Painting!  Until next time……