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Tint

As explained in Design for Developers

A tint is a color produced by lightening a hue, typically by adding white or increasing its lightness.

A tint is a lighter variation of a hue, created by adding white or increasing lightness. Derived tints expand a palette while keeping the interface visually cohesive and less overwhelming. section 9.1.1 section 9.9

Use tints to make practical color decisions:

  • Start with a primary color, then create lighter variations for additional UI elements without abandoning the palette’s overall relationship. section 9.1.1 section 9.2.1
  • Use tints selectively when a color scheme needs contrast between items, while checking that the resulting colors remain readable. section 9.2.1 section 9.9
  • Do not rely on color alone to communicate information; pair colored elements with patterns, icons, labels, or other context. section 9.2.1 section 9.9

Creating a lighter purple

In Adobe Illustrator, create a shape filled with the base purple, then adjust the color controls to produce a lighter tint. The result can sit beside the base color and a darker shade as a coordinated palette. section 9.1.1

Figure 9.2 The base color is a bright purple, followed by a much darker shade and a lighter-colored tint.

Compare a bright purple base color with its darker shade and lighter tint. section 9.1.1

How Design for Developers covers it

How deep it goes
Explains the definition, palette role, Illustrator workflow, and HSL controls without developing a broader theory of color perception.
Examples
Uses a bright purple palette, Adobe Illustrator adjustments, chart colors, pattern overlays, and studied website designs as examples.
What you can do after
Apply it via Adobe Illustrator or HSLA by creating lighter palette variations and checking their contrast and communication role.
How it connects
Connects tints with hues, shades, tones, color palettes, saturation, lightness, color relationships, and accessibility.

Related concepts

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Design for Developers. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.