These are the 3 dimensions of color and should be taken into consideration before starting your painting: Hue, Chroma and Value
1. Hue-color, i.e. red, blue; the characteristic by which we distinguish on color from another. All hues fit into 10 broad families. They are red, orange, yellow, green-yellow, green, blue-green, blue, purple-blue, purple and red-purple. All other colors are a variation of these families.
2. Chroma-the brightness or strength of a color. The maximum strength is when the color is at its brightest, usually right out of the tube. The chroma is weakest when it has been grayed. Examples of bright colors: Opera, Orange, Red.
3. Value-the lightness or darkness of the color. Value helps structure the painting, establish a center of interest and lead the viewer into and around the painting in an interesting and planned way. It helps to describe forms and tell us where the light is coming from and helps create an illusion of depth.