8.5. Hue-Saturation

The Hue-Saturation command is used to adjust hue, saturation and lightness levels on a range of color weights for the selected area or active layer.

8.5.1. Ativando o comando

You can get to the Hue-Saturation command through: ColorsHue-Saturation…

8.5.2. Opções

Figura 16.150. Hue-Saturation Options

Hue-Saturation Options


Presets are a common feature for several Colors command. You can find its description in Seção 8.1, “Introdução ao menu de Cores.

Select Primary Color to Adjust

You can choose, between six, the three primary colors (Red, Green and Blue) and the three complementary colors (Cyan, Magenta and Yellow), the color to be modified. They are arranged according to the color circle. When hue increases, hue goes counter-clockwise. When it decreases, it goes clockwise. If you click on the Master button, all colors will be concerned with changes. GIMP standard is to set Red as 0. Note that this colors refer to color ranges and not to color channels.

Hue changes are shown in color swatches and the result is visible in the image if the Preview option is enabled.


This slider lets you set how much color ranges will overlap. This effect is very subtle and works on very next colors only:

Figura 16.151. Example for the Overlap option

Example for the Overlap option

Original image. From the left to the right: a reddish yellow (255;240;0); a pure yellow (255;255;0); a greenish yellow (240;255;0).

Example for the Overlap option

Overlap = 0. Hue = 15. Colors become (186;255;1), (168;255;1), (156;255;1).

Example for the Overlap option

Overlap = 100. Hue = 15. Colors become (192;255;1), (168;255;1), (162;255;1). Because of overlap, greenish is less green and reddish is less red.

Adjust Selected Color
  • Hue: The slider and the input box allow you to select a hue in the color circle (-180, 180).

  • Lightness: The slider and the input box allow you to select a value (luminosity): -100, 100.

    [Nota] Nota

    Lightness changes here concern a color range, while they concern a color tone with Curves and Levels tools, which work on color channels. If you change the Yellow lightness with Hue-Saturation, all yellow pixels will be changed, while only dark, bright or medium pixels luminosity will be changed with Curves or Levels tools.

  • Saturation: The slider and the input box allow you to select a saturation: -100, 100.

The Initialize Color button deletes changes to hue, lightness and saturation of the selected color.

Preview and Split view

These are common features described in Seção 8.1, “Introdução ao menu de Cores.