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Data Visualisation Guide

Describing colours: introduction

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Colour

Humans use words to describe colours. We have words like “red”, “orange”, “purple” and “pink” to describe colours. And we even have words to describe different tints of the same color, like “light pink”, “hot pink”, “deep pink” and “salmon”. But these words do not map one on one to exact tints and hues: people use these words to describe slightly different colours.

On the following pages, different systems to exactly describe colours are outlined, together with their application:

Related pages

Visual hierarchy: colour

Describing colours: RGB

Describing colours: HSL

Describing colours: CMYK

Relationship between RGB, HSL and CMYK

Colour harmonies

Colour