Color Wheel
Hue, Tint, Shade & Tone
What's the difference between a Color and a Hue? Most people, even the pros, get confused about this. The word Color is a general term. It refers to all the variations we see, even white or gray. If you look at the
Basic Primary Color Wheel
you'll notice there are 3 separate bands circling the center. There should actually be a 4th called Tones as you'll see below. Most Color Wheels only show bright colors which can create confusion. It's not always easy to see that every color, even black, has a
Primary Color
as its root. Every individual color on the Basic Color Wheel can be altered in 3 ways by Tinting, Shading or Toning. And that's before we even think about mixing 2 colors together.
HUES
These are the purest and brightest colors. They form the full spectrum of colors which progress around the Primary Color Wheel in gradual increments.These color schemes are bold, cheerful and exciting. They would be great in a child's playroom or for in-your-face advertising.
TINTS
A Tint is sometimes called a Pastel. It's simply any color with white added.A color scheme using Tints is soft, youthful and soothing. Tints would work well in in a girl's room or for a website targeted to women.
SHADES
A Shade is simply any color with black added.Shades are deep, powerful and mysterious. They work well in a masculine environment and are best used as dark accents.
TONES
A Tone is created by adding both White and Black. Any color that is "greyed down" is considered a Tone.Tones are somehow more pleasing to the eye. They are complex, subtle and sophisticated. They're the best choice for most interior decorating and work well in almost any Color Scheme.
To Basic Color Wheel
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