Relative brilliance or dullness of a color. Saturation can be lowered by adding the complement of a color. The portion of pure hue is the degree of saturation. If colored type is to hierarchically precede black type, it must have a greater stroke thickness. Because colored type recedes, it is also harder to read.
Legibility suffers, unless the color is very dark in value and barely distinguishable from black.
Color and Reading Ensure lightness contrast between foreground and background of at least 7 to 1. For better contrast, darken light pure colors on a light background. Lighten dark pure colors on a dark background. Print in a primary color. Use opponent colors If you use a pure blue, use it as a background.