Lavender is a light shade of purple or violet. This delicate color is named after the lovely blooms of the lavender flower itself.
Understanding the Lavender Hue
Several sources describe lavender as a pale, light, or muted version of purple or violet. Its position on the color wheel sits between violet and red, but its lightness distinguishes it from deeper purples. The exact shade can vary depending on the context, ranging from pale and grayish violets to brighter, more saturated shades.
- Lightness: A key characteristic of lavender is its high lightness, meaning it contains a significant amount of white. This is what separates it from darker shades of purple.
- Saturation: The saturation of lavender can also vary, ranging from muted and soft to slightly more vibrant.
- Variations: The term "lavender" encompasses a range of similar colors, including pale, light, medium, or grayish violet hues.
Many sources confirm this definition:
- Figma: Describes lavender as a light shade of purple, named after the lavender flower.
- Wikipedia: States that lavender is a light shade of purple or violet, relating it to the flower's color.
- Tourbox Tech: Explains that lavender is a light or pale shade of violet achieved by adding white to violet.
- ArtyClick: Classifies lavender as a light medium bright shade of purple belonging to the Pastel Purple color family.
Creating Lavender
To create a lavender color, one can mix blue and red to make violet, and then add white to achieve the desired lightness. The exact proportions of blue, red, and white will depend on the specific shade of lavender desired.
Lavender in Different Applications
The color lavender finds its way into various applications, from fashion (as in a lavender dress) to paint colors (such as PPG Paints' Lavender Haze). The versatile nature of this light purple shade allows it to be combined with various other colors, as seen in makeup combinations discussed in online forums.