tints

In color theory, a tint is a color made lighter than the pure hue by the addition of white. The result is a pale version of the original color and is commonly used in painting and design. In digital color spaces, a tint can be produced by increasing lightness in HSL or by mixing the hue with white in RGB.

Tints are one of three basic terms describing variations of colors. A tint is created by adding white; the term is contrasted with shade (adding black) and tone (adding gray). These relationships help describe the brightness and saturation changes independent of hue.

Applications: Tints are widely used to create soft palettes, backgrounds, and pastel colors in art, graphic design, and interior decoration. They affect perceived mood and readability; high-contrast tints can improve legibility when paired with darker text.

Methods: In painting, tints are produced by mixing the base color with white pigment or by diluting with water. In digital media, tints are represented by high lightness values and increased white content; color management tools allow precise tint values in HSL or RGB.

Other uses: The term tint also appears in window or film tinting, where a translucent layer reduces brightness or alters color; tinted glass or film is common in vehicles and architecture, often specified by shading percentage.