Adobe illustrator 10 Manuale Utente

A color mode in Illustrator determines the color model used to display and print Illustrator 
files. Illustrator bases its color modes on established models for describing and repro-
ducing color. Common models include HSB for hue, saturation, brightness); RGB (for red, 
green, blue); and CMYK (for cyan, magenta, yellow, black). 

Based on the human perception of color, the HSB model describes three fundamental 
characteristics of color:

Hue is the color reflected from or transmitted through an object. It is measured as a 

location on the standard color wheel, expressed as a degree between 0º and 360º. 
In common use, hue is identified by the name of the color such as red, orange, or green. 

Saturation, sometimes called chroma, is the strength or purity of the color. Saturation 

represents the amount of gray in proportion to the hue, measured as a percentage 
from 0% (gray) to 100% (fully saturated). On the standard color wheel, saturation 
increases from the center to the edge.

Brightness is the relative lightness or darkness of the color, usually measured as a 

percentage from 0% (black) to 100% (white).

HSB color model 
A. Saturation B. Hue C. Brightness D. All hues

A large percentage of the visible spectrum can be represented by mixing red, green, and 
blue (RGB) colored light in various proportions and intensities. Where the colors overlap, 
they create cyan, magenta, and yellow.

C

D

A

B