Wisconsin Esthetics State Board Practice Test

What does the term "hue" refer to in color theory?

1. The brightness of a color

2. The tint of a color

3. The actual color itself

4. The shade of a color

The correct answer is: The actual color itself

In color theory, "hue" specifically refers to the actual color itself, which is determined by the wavelength of light that is perceived. It is the primary attribute that allows us to categorize colors, such as red, blue, green, and yellow. Understanding hue is essential for estheticians when selecting products or creating color palettes, as it is the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes one color from another. The other concepts, such as brightness, tint, and shade, relate to modifications of hues. Brightness pertains to how light or dark a color appears, tint refers to a lighter version of a hue created by adding white, and shade involves a darker version of a hue made by adding black. While those are important aspects of color mixing and application, they do not define "hue" itself, which is why the finest definition is "the actual color."