Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 major characteristics that we describe color?

The correct choice, which refers to a characteristic not typically used to describe color, is radiance. In the study of color theory, the three primary characteristics that define color are hue, saturation, and brightness.

Hue denotes the type of color itself, such as red, blue, or green, essentially identifying the color's position in the color spectrum. Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of the color; a highly saturated color appears vivid and rich, while a less saturated color appears more washed out or pastel. Brightness indicates the perceived lightness or darkness of a color, essentially how much light is reflected from an object.

Radiance, while related to the physics of light and indicates the amount of light energy emitted or reflected, does not directly pertain to the subjective perception of color itself. Therefore, it stands apart from the primary characteristics used to describe the quality of color.