Understanding the distinctions between “colour,” “hue,” “tint,” “shade,” and “tone” is crucial for anyone engaging seriously with photography. Although these terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, they possess precise meanings within colour theory.
Colour serves as the broadest term, encompassing every hue, tint, tone, or shade perceivable by the human eye. Notably, even white, black, and gray are frequently included under this umbrella, despite debates regarding their technical classification.
Hue refers to the dominant colour family or the basic origin of a colour, such as red, blue, yellow, or green. Hues are the foundational pigments—the primary, secondary, and tertiary colours—excluding black, white, and gray, which are considered achromatic. When analyzing a colour, identifying its underlying hue is the first step; for example, a colour may be described as “yellow with a greenish hue.”
Tint is produced by adding white to a pure hue, resulting in a lighter, softer version of the original colour. Pastel colours are typical examples of tints. In practice, tints are created by starting with white and gradually incorporating the desired hue, avoiding any inclusion of gray to maintain the colour’s clarity and brightness.
Shade emerges when black is added to a hue, deepening and darkening the original colour. Examples include maroon (from red), navy blue (from blue), or forest green (from green). The method requires cautious addition of black, as it can quickly overpower the hue, leading to overly dark results.
Tone is achieved by mixing a pure colour with gray (a balanced combination of black and white), resulting in a dulled, less vibrant appearance. Tones are prevalent in real-world settings, as they tend to be more visually pleasing and subtle compared to pure hues. Excessive gray, however, can desaturate the colour to the point of losing its original vibrancy. In summary:
Feature Tint (colour + White) Shade (colour + Black) Tone (colour + Gray)
Effect Lightens, softens Darkens, deepens Dulls, subdues
Association Airiness, pastels Depth, drama Subtlety, complexity
Examples Pink, baby blue Maroon, navy blue Most real-world colours
Mastery of these distinctions is indispensable for photographers and artists aiming to manipulate mood, depth, and sophistication in their compositions. By understanding how to leverage tints, shades, and tones, creators can tailor the visual impact of their work with greater precision and intentionality.
For a more in-depth understanding of these basics we recommend this page and of the psychology of colours we suggest this page. For practical examples use our FREE AI Color Infographic Generator.