Color concept
Saturation
How intense or pure a color appears relative to grey or neutral color.
Core concept Color terminology future
What it is
Saturation describes how colorful a color appears compared with a neutral grey of similar brightness. A low-saturation red may become dusty, muted, or brownish; a high-saturation red feels vivid.
Basics
- Saturation is often used in digital tools such as HSL/HSV.
- It overlaps with, but is not always identical to, chroma.
- Saturation affects emotional tone and usability in design.
Notes for later expansion
- Later expansion should explain saturation versus chroma without overloading beginners.