Undertone

Plural: undertones

Undertone definition

The underlying hue of a color that becomes visible when the paint is applied thinly or made transparent.
In painting, the hidden color bias that influences how a pigment behaves in mixtures.

Examples

A red may appear neutral in mass but reveal a blue undertone when spread thin.

A blue with a green undertone will produce brighter greens when mixed with yellow.

A gray can carry a subtle warm or cool undertone depending on its composition.

Context

Undertone is not always visible at first glance. It emerges when the paint is diluted, spread thinly, or mixed with other colors.

This makes it essential for color mixing. Two colors that look similar in their body color can behave very differently because of their undertones.

Transparent applications such as glazing reveal undertones more clearly, while thick applications tend to hide them.

Core Principles

Derivation

From “under” meaning beneath, and “tone” referring to color. It describes a color that exists below the surface appearance.

The Lexicon by Alex Righetto