MIXORA CONCEPT
Saturation
Colorfulness judged in proportion to the brightness of the color itself.
In everyday studio language, saturation usually means color intensity. Precise color science distinguishes saturation from chroma and colorfulness, so the intended context matters.
What “Strong evidence” means
The core definition or effect is well established across authoritative standards, foundational research or a broad research literature. The label does not make every practical prediction certain.
VISUAL EXPLANATION · MARKER BOARDA bright illuminated color may appear highly colorful without having the same relative saturation as a darker sample.
Adding white can reduce perceived intensity even when it raises lightness.
Are you judging absolute colorfulness or colorfulness relative to brightness?
The colorfulness of an area judged relative to a similarly illuminated white or gray reference.
→color × bridgeLightness and valueHow light or dark a surface color appears relative to white and black under comparable conditions.
→color × bridgeSubtractive color mixingMixing colorants that absorb parts of incoming light, usually producing a darker, less reflective mixture.
→SOURCES & TRUST
References
Last reviewed
- 01Colour Appearance AnalysisReference source
CIE · 1993 · CIE Technical Collection 103-1993
Distinguishes measured colorimetry from perceived attributes under specified viewing conditions.
What the source labels mean
- Primary source
- Original work, experiment, standard or historical text.
- Academic source
- Scholarly research or review published for an academic audience.
- Reference source
- An expert standard, encyclopedia or institutional explanation that summarizes a field.
- General reference
- A practical specialist resource useful for application, but not treated as decisive research by itself.