Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

Which term refers to the depth of the color in relation to its purity?

1. Brightness

2. Hue

3. Saturation

4. Value

The correct answer is: Saturation

Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. A color with high saturation appears vivid and rich, while a color with low saturation looks more washed out or muted. In the context of color theory, saturation is vital for creating dynamic and engaging images, as it can greatly impact the emotional tone of a photograph. Brightness, on the other hand, refers to how light or dark a color appears, regardless of its intensity. Hue describes the actual color itself, such as red, blue, or yellow, without considering its purity. Value pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color but does not account for the color's intensity or purity. Hence, saturation is specifically concerned with how vivid or muted a color appears, making it the correct term in relation to the depth of color purity.