SoulEyes Photography
*SoulEyes Photography>>>Photography School

A question from a beg. graphic designer about saturation and brightness?



I am trying to teach myself graphic design until I can save enough money for school... I am confused the def. of saturation and brightness in design and photography if saturation is how vivid or dull a color is and brightness is the amount of lightness of a color isn't it really the same thing for example a light blue coat has hi saturation of blue and alot of brightness why the difference of terms I am attempting to teach myself photoshop and this is confusing to me or do I have the concepts wrong, could someone example? thanks

Look at it this way. Every picture has within it a range of white to black pixels, the greyscale. If you run the saturation slider down to nill that is what you see, the lightness or darkness of each pixel which gives a monochrome (single colour) image. As you run the slider up again the colour element begins to show. The mid point is usually the most accurate rendition of the original. As you go higher the colours become more intense. The picture does look brighter but that is only because the colour saturation is greater.
Taking the brightness slider down to nill you will just have a black image because this slider operates on every element of the pixels, not just the colour element but the greyscale element too. Increasing the brightness increases both colour and greyscale so at the maximum the image is white.
That is the difference. Saturation affects the colour element of the image, brightness affects the whole image.
Use both and observe the different effects. You will soon get the idea. Source(s): Experience
The best way to explain it is just to get a program that has a "hue saturation, lightness (rather than "brightness")" adjustment (like Paintshop pro, Photoshop LE, or the GIMP) and play around. Watch what happens when you slide on slider up and down.

Let's say you have blue, on an HSL adjustment.

If you move the "hue" left or right, it will move from green to blue to violet...

If you move "saturation" it will change the "amount" of blue -- from vivid blue (regardless of whether it's light or dark) to "washed out" blue to gray.

If you move the "lightness" it will change from white to light blue to dark blue to black.

So, let's say you havea medium, royal blue. If you move "saturation" up, it will move toward bright bright blue. If you move "saturation" down, it will move toward a medium gray (absence of color).

Now, with that same medium, royal blue, you move brightness. If you move it up it will change to WHITE. Ifyou move it down it will change to BLACK. the "amount" of blue in the color stays the same, but the lightness or darkness will change.

Make sense? Just try it and you'll see what happens.
Tags
Photography Tips Photography Studio Photography School Photography Magazine Photography Jobs Photography Equipment Photography Courses Photo Gallery
Related information
  • Nikon D80 w/ 18-200mm lens....?
  • I am afraid of being a mediocre! serious problem, please help?
  • What's wrong with me?
  • Have you ever won an award, medal or trophy?
  • Do you have to be good in drawing and painting in order to do good in a sculpture/ceramics class?
  • Is my best friend doing these things out of insecurity?
  • How do you become a whale photographer?
  • Should I give up on my dream of becoming a photographer?
  •  

    Photography Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster