What does adding gray to a color typically do?

Adding gray to a color typically decreases its saturation. Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. When gray is mixed with a color, it reduces the vibrancy of that color, resulting in a more muted tone. This process allows for the creation of softer, less intense variations of the original color, often referred to as "tones." For example, mixing a bright red with gray will produce a subdued version of red, making it less vivid. The addition of gray effectively lowers the color's saturation while preserving its hue, leading to a more toned-down appearance. This understanding is vital in fields like art, design, and aesthetics, where color manipulation plays a significant role.