What does value refer to in the context of color?

In the context of color theory, value specifically refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. This characteristic determines how bright or dim a color appears in a piece of artwork or design. Value is crucial for creating depth, contrast, and visual interest. A color with high value is closer to white and appears lighter, while a color with low value is closer to black and appears darker. Understanding value helps artists and designers manipulate light and shadow to achieve a desired effect in their work.

The other options pertain to different aspects of color: intensity relates to how vivid the color appears, the chromatic name refers to the specific hue or color itself, and temperature indicates whether a color is perceived as warm or cool. Each of these aspects plays a role in the overall perception of color, but value distinctly addresses the scale of lightness and darkness.