What is the Difference Between Hue and Saturation?

The difference between hue and saturation lies in their definitions and how they affect the appearance of colors.

• Hue refers to the actual color, such as blue, green, or red. It is calculated in degrees of the color wheel and goes from red, yellow, lime, aqua, blue, magenta, and back to red. Hue is what most people perceive as color, and it depends on the wavelength of light being produced or reflected.
• Saturation refers to the strength, purity, or intensity of a color. It is also referred to as "intensity" and "chroma". Saturation indicates how much white, black, or gray is mixed in the color. The more saturation, the brighter the color becomes. A high saturation value results in a strong, pure color, while a low saturation value results in a weak, pale color.

In summary, hue is the actual color, while saturation is the strength or intensity of that color. Both hue and saturation play a crucial role in creating visually appealing designs and choosing harmonious color schemes.

Comparative Table: Hue vs Saturation

Here is a table summarizing the differences between hue and saturation:

In summary, hue refers to the pure color being used, while saturation refers to the dominance of that color in the overall shade. Hue is a component in color models like RGB and HSV, while saturation is a component in color models like HSV and HSL.