The addition of gray to a color alters its what?

Adding gray to a color alters its tone. When gray is mixed with a color, it decreases the intensity of that color without changing its fundamental hue. This results in a more muted version of the original color, which is known as a tone. Tones are often used in floral design and other artistic endeavors to create depth and visual interest, as they can influence the mood and ambiance of an arrangement or composition.

Hue refers to the actual color itself, such as red, blue, or yellow, and is not affected by the addition of gray. Shade involves adding black to a color, which darkens it, while brightness relates to how light or dark a color appears—neither of these concepts apply to the effect of adding gray. Therefore, when gray is introduced into a color, it is the tone that is specifically altered, creating a subtler version of the original color.