Relativity of Color

We perceive three properties of color: value, hue and saturation. Value is the relative light or dark character of color. Hue is the chromatic component; it is what we refer to as the color we perceive. The purity of that color is the saturation component. None of these properties is absolute. Our perception is affected by the properties of adjacent colors.

This section will demonstrate the relative nature of color properties. Be aware, though, that computer monitors and ambient light affect the appearance of value, hue and saturation. Besides general differences in color, monitors frequently exhibit "poorly behaved," or non-linear color, in which the hue shifts slightly with changes in value. The examples here may be slightly more or less accurate when seen on one monitor versus another, but since nearly all systems display 24-bit color, these demonstrations should be effective for everyone.

Relativity of Value

Value appears darker on a bright background and lighter on a dark background. This example shows center blocks of identical value, but they appear different because of the contrasting background.

The center blocks in the example below are different values, but they appear similar due to the value surrounding each.

Relativity of Hue

Our perception of individual hues will shift due to surrounding hues. The center blocks of these samples are the same hue, but they appear dissimilar because of the different hues in which they are placed.

Not only do the center blocks appear to be different hues, they seem to shift toward the surrounding color of their companions. The right center block appears similar to the background color of the left sample, and vice versa.

Relativity of Saturation

Saturation is also affected by surrounding color. A mid-saturation color is seen here against high saturation and low saturation backgrounds. The center blocks are identical.