To render a color more intense and pure by narrowing its spectral distribution. In lighting, this is achieved by filtering out the white light components or by driving narrow-band emitters harder without adding white fill. Highly saturated colors have a high excitation purity on a chromaticity diagram and are used to create dramatic visual impact, though they drastically reduce the overall luminous flux of a fixture.
Saturate the cyc wash for the second act so the dancers pop against a deep blue background.
Related terms
Chromaticity
Where a light's color sits on a color map once brightness is set aside, given as coordinates such as x, y or u', v'.
Chromaticity diagram
The horseshoe-shaped chart that maps every visible color by its chromaticity coordinates.
Gel
A sheet of colored or diffusing plastic film placed in front of a lighting fixture to change its color or quality.