definition
The property of reflecting light of a particular intensity and wavelength (or mixture of wavelengths) to which the eye is sensitive. It is the major visual property of surfaces.
subelements
Hue - the aspect of color which we know by particular names, e.g., red, blue, orange, and which forms the visible spectrum. A given hue or color tint is caused by a particular wavelength.
Value - the degree of lightness or darkness, caused by the intensity of light being reflected, ranging from black to white.
Chroma - the degree of color saturation or brilliance, determined by the mixture of light rays. It is the degree of grayness in a color, ranging from pure (high chroma) to dull (low chroma).
suggested vocabulary
Hues - red, yellow, brown, olive gray, reddish brown, etc. (See Munsell color books for precise terms.) Primary colors - red, blue, yellow Secondary colors - green, orange, violet Tertiary colors - mixtures of secondary colors. Value - dark to light Chroma - brilliant, pure, saturated, dull, grayish. Color temperature - warm to cold, temperature is caused by hue. Red, yellow, brown, and orange are considered warm and sunny. Blues and green are cool and shady. Vivid color - usually primary or secondary colors, with high chroma. Subtle color - colors or mixtures which are delicate, usually tertiary or low chroma colors. Luminous color - emitting its own light. Glare - reflection of high intensity light (very high value). Pastel color - delicate "soft" color of high value but low chroma. Monotone - the sameness or uniformity of color. Color harmony - the assortment of combinations of colors which readily and pleasantly blend with each other.
dominance
With other things equal, light, warm, bright colors in a scene will "advance" and tend to dominate dark, cool, dull colors which "retreat." Dark next to light tends to attract the eye and become a visual focal point.
variable effects
Distance - atmospheric perspective, due to scattering of light by dust particles, makes colors become paler, lower in chroma, and bluer as viewing distance increases. High value colors tend to remain most recognizable over great distances.
Atmospheric Conditions - haze, fog, dust, rain, etc., may cause atmospheric perspective to become extreme, even over short viewing distances. Compared with sunshine, clouds reduce value and chroma.
Lighting Direction - objects which are frontlighted (i.e., illuminated from the front, behind the observer) appear paler and brighter than those which are backlit (i.e., illuminated from behind).
Time of Day - illuminated surfaces tend to become paler during midday sun and to become darker and redder early and late.

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