Final answer:
Saturation refers to the vividness or purity of a color and is one dimension of color that artists manipulate to create desired effects in an artwork. Fully saturated colors are the most vivid and intense, while desaturation leads to a washed-out appearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for one of the three dimensions of color that refers to the purity or vividness of a hue is saturation. Saturation is the intensity of a color. When a color is fully saturated, it is in its purest form or most authentic version, such as the primary colors which are the most saturated. As saturation decreases, the color can begin to look washed out, especially when white or black is added. High saturation levels mean the color is bright and at its highest intensity. Conversely, low saturation corresponds to a duller, less intense version of the color.
An understanding of saturation is crucial for artists, as it determines how vivid or subdued a color appears within an artwork. This can be manipulated to create moods, emphasize certain aspects, or portray a specific artistic vision. Using colors with the same intensity, or equiluminance, is a technique to harmonize different hues in a composition. Therefore, mastering saturation is essential for effective color management in art.