Munsell perceives colour as having three dimensions - Hue, Value and Chroma. Hue is the name of the colour family, such as red or blue. Value is the lightness or darkness of a colour. Chroma is the intensity or strength of a colour.

In Munsell three-dimensional colour space, hues are arranged in a circle, changing from red to yellow to green to blue to purple and back to red. As you move around the circle, hues blend into one another continuously. Every perceptible hue can be found on the hue circle. Value is the vertical axis changing from black at the bottom to white at the top. Chroma changes continuously from the neutral centre (0 Chroma) to maximum saturation at the outer edge.

In Munsell Color space, each colour occupies a single point which can be described by its Munsell notation. Using Munsell notations, each colour has a logical relationship to all others. This opens up endless creative possibilities in colour choices, as well as the ability to communicate those colour choices precisely.

While Munsell Color notations define exact points in colour space, the system itself is a continuum allowing the selection of any colour that exists.