- Definition
A tint is a lighter version of a colour, made by mixing it with white.
Adding white paint to red paint creates pink, which is a tint of red.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A tint is like adding a little milk to your hot chocolate to make it a lighter brown.
Ask your child: What happens to this blue when we add a little white?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a tint is just any light colour. A tint is specifically created by mixing white into another colour to make it lighter.
Examples
- Mixing white paint with blue paint creates light blue, a tint of blue.
- Adding white to purple paint makes lavender, a tint of purple.
tint is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
