What is meant by 'chroma' in color theory?

Chroma refers to the purity or intensity of a color, signifying how vivid or muted a hue is. When discussing color theory, a 'pure hue' represents a color at its most intense point without any addition of black, white, or gray, which can dilute its strength. This concept is fundamental in understanding how colors can vary in their saturation levels.

In contrast to brightness or darkness, which pertain to how light or dark a color appears based on its value, chroma specifically addresses the richness of the color itself. While mixing a color with gray results in a more muted tone, it does not capture the essence of what chroma signifies. Thus, identifying chroma as a pure hue allows for a clearer understanding of color dynamics and their applications in various design and artistic fields.