tint

Tint is a color concept used in art and design to describe a hue that has been lightened by the addition of white. In color theory, a tint is created when white is mixed with a pure hue, producing a lighter version of that color. This is distinct from a shade, which results from adding black, and from a tone, which is made by adding gray. In digital color work, the term tint is sometimes used informally to describe increasing a color's lightness or brightness.

In practical terms, tints are used to achieve pastel effects or to create highlights in a composition. Artists mix tint percentages to control lightness; paint manufacturers often provide tint bases and tinting systems that let designers specify how much white to add. In printing and reproduction, a tint or wash refers to a lighter application of ink, achieved by reducing ink density so the underlying surface shows through.

Beyond art, tint has other uses. Window tint refers to a film applied to glass to reduce glare, heat, and UV transmission; the level of tint is regulated by law in many places. In photography and image editing, tinting can be used as a color cast or to adjust balance, sometimes by shifting toward white or toward a particular hue.

Overall, tint denotes a lightened version of a color, created by introducing white or a light component, and is one of the core terms alongside shade and tone in color theory.