HSL is the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness color model, replaces the RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) color model in graphics and paint software applications. The HSL model attempts to resemble more perceptual color models such as the Natural Color System (NCS) or Munsell color system, placing fully saturated colors around a circle at a lightness value of .5, where a lightness value of zero (0) or one is fully black or white, respectively. From the Color Chooser window, select the HSV tab; and the HSV tab (Figure 1) becomes available.
There are several ways to adjust the hue, saturation, lightness, and transparency of the colors. The slider bar, in conjunction with the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness options will change the selected color. Or you can enter directly a value for the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness cells. The following rules apply to the values you can enter for each cell:
- Hue: Hue is measured in a circle from zero (0) to 360 degrees as follows: 0 = red, 60 = yellow, 120 = green, 180 = cyan, 40 = blue, 300 = magenta.
- Saturation: Saturation is the amount of black, measured from zero (0) to one hundred (100) percent.
- Lightness: Is a measurement of the brightness of a color, measured from zero (0) to one hundred (100) percent. A value of zero (0) is considered black.
The final way to set a color on the HSL tab is from the color palette. Click and drag the crosshair symbol, which will automatically change the hue, saturation, and lightness items. Click OK, and the Color Chooser window will close. Depending on where you accessed the Color Chooser window, you will have to click either Apply or OK for the color change to appear in the display area.