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Dhruv Badaya
2 min read

Explain Hue, Saturation and Value in HSV color model.

The HSV color model is a cylindrical representation of colors, which stands for Hue, Saturation, and Value. It's widely used in various applications because it aligns more closely with how humans perceive and interpret colors. Here's a detailed explanation of each component:


1. Hue (H)

  • Definition: Hue represents the type of color or the dominant wavelength of light. It's what we usually refer to when we think of a color name like red, green, blue, etc.

  • Range: Hue is measured in degrees on the color wheel, ranging from 0° to 360°.

  • 0° and 360°: Red

  • 60°: Yellow

  • 120°: Green

  • 180°: Cyan

  • 240°: Blue

  • 300°: Magenta

  • Concept: Imagine a circular rainbow or color wheel. Hue specifies the position on this wheel.

 

2. Saturation (S)

  • Definition: Saturation indicates the intensity or purity of the color. It represents how much the color is diluted with white (i.e., how much gray is mixed with the color).

  • Range: Saturation is a percentage, ranging from 0% to 100%.

  • 0%: The color is completely desaturated, appearing as a shade of gray.

  • 100%: The color is fully saturated, appearing as the purest version of the color.

  • Concept: Higher saturation means more vivid and intense colors, while lower saturation means more muted and washed-out colors.

 

3. Value (V)

  • Definition: Value, also known as brightness or lightness, represents the brightness of the color. It indicates how light or dark the color is.

  • Range: Value is also a percentage, ranging from 0% to 100%.

  • 0%: The color is completely black.

  • 100%: The color is at its brightest, with no black mixed in.

  • Concept: Higher value means a brighter color, while lower value means a darker color.



This model is particularly useful for selecting and adjusting colors in graphic design and image editing software because it allows intuitive adjustments:

  • Hue: Change the type of color.

  • Saturation: Adjust how vivid or muted the color is.

  • Value: Adjust how light or dark the color is.


Let's consider a specific color example to see how it maps to HSV:

  • Color: Bright Pink

  • Hue (H): Approximately 330° (position on the color wheel close to magenta).

  • Saturation (S): 100% (fully saturated, no gray mixed in).

  • Value (V): 100% (very bright, no black mixed in).

This means that bright pink is a highly saturated, bright color located near the magenta part of the color wheel.

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