Color Intensity is the property of color that describes its purity or strength. In casual conversation we often refer to this as the brightness or dullness of a color. There are many methods to control the intensity. One of the most effective ways to decrease the intensity of a color is to mix it with its complement, the color straight across from it on the color wheel. Of course, adding black or white to a color will also lower its intensity, but this will dramatically alter the value of the color at the same time.