Tailwind CSS Grayscale

Grayscale is a visual effect in CSS that desaturates an image or an element, effectively converting all its colors to shades of gray. It is commonly used in design to create subdued visuals, focus attention elsewhere, or achieve artistic styling.

Tailwind CSS provides pre-configured classes for applying grayscale filters efficiently. These utilities are responsive, customizable, and enable developers to implement grayscale styling without additional custom CSS.

Class	Properties	Example
`grayscale-0`	`filter: grayscale(0);`	`<div className="grayscale-0"></div>`
`grayscale`	`filter: grayscale(100%);`	`<div className="grayscale"></div>`

Overview of Grayscale

Tailwind CSS simplifies the process of toggling grayscale on elements. Below, we delve into how to add or remove grayscale styling effortlessly:

Adding Grayscale to Elements

You can add a grayscale filter to any element using the grayscale utility class. All visual elements inside the applied tag are affected, desaturating the content.

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export default function GrayscaleImage() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Applying grayscale on an image */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="grayscale max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Resetting the Grayscale Effect

The grayscale-0 class can be used to remove the grayscale, restoring the original visual state for the element. You can also use filter-none to remove all the filters used on the image.

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export default function ResetGrayscale() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Image without filters */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="filter-none max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

States and Responsiveness

Conditional styling allows grayscale effects to be dynamically applied when users interact with elements or when specific conditions are met.

Hover and Focus States

With Tailwind’s hover and focus utilities, grayscale filters can be applied only when specific user actions, such as hovering or focusing, occur.

This approach ensures the image remains in full color by default and switches to grayscale only during interaction, e.g., hover:grayscale translates to :hover { filter: grayscale(100%); }.

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export default function InteractiveGrayscale() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Grayscale appears on hover */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="hover:grayscale max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Breakpoint Modifiers

Using Tailwind's responsive modifiers, you can control when grayscale effects take effect based on screen size.

In the below example, tailwind applies a grayscale filter that will work on sm and above breakpoints upto lg. On lg and above, the filter is removed using filter-none.

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export default function ResponsiveGrayscale() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Grayscale effect below specific screen width */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="sm:grayscale lg:filter-none max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Custom Grayscale

You may require custom control over grayscale values or extensions beyond Tailwind’s defaults. This can be done via Tailwind configuration files.

Extending the Theme

The Tailwind theme can be extended to fine-tune or add new grayscale scales in tailwind.config.js. Once added, these classes can be used directly with your elements.

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import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

export default function CustomGrayscale() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Custom grayscale filter */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="grayscale-50 max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Using Arbitrary Values

For cases where custom values are required without modifying Tailwind’s configuration, arbitrary values provide a solution.

The code below applies a grayscale value of 25% directly, bypassing pre-configured Tailwind classes.

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export default function ArbitraryGrayscale() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen w-screen bg-gray-100 flex items-center justify-center">
      {/* Using arbitrary grayscale values */}
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="grayscale-[25%] max-w-md rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Real World Examples

Employee Directory with Grayscale Hover Effect

A responsive employee directory grid where employee photos appear in grayscale until hovered.

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export default function EmployeeDirectory() {
  const employees = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: "Sarah Johnson",
      role: "Senior Developer",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1494790108377-be9c29b29330",
      alt: "Sarah Johnson profile photo"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: "Michael Chen",
      role: "UX Designer",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507003211169-0a1dd7228f2d",
      alt: "Michael Chen profile photo"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: "Emma Wilson",
      role: "Product Manager",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1573497019940-1c28c88b4f3e",
      alt: "Emma Wilson profile photo"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      name: "David Kim",
      role: "Frontend Developer",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500648767791-00dcc994a43e",
      alt: "David Kim profile photo"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      name: "Lisa Martinez",
      role: "Backend Developer",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1438761681033-6461ffad8d80",
      alt: "Lisa Martinez profile photo"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      name: "James Wright",
      role: "DevOps Engineer",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1472099645785-5658abf4ff4e",
      alt: "James Wright profile photo"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6 p-6">
      {employees.map((employee) => (
        <div key={employee.id} className="bg-white rounded-lg shadow-lg p-4">
          <img
            src={employee.src}
            alt={employee.alt}
            className="w-full h-64 object-cover rounded-lg filter grayscale hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-300"
          />
          <div className="mt-4">
            <h3 className="text-xl font-bold">{employee.name}</h3>
            <p className="text-gray-600">{employee.role}</p>
          </div>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Vintage Photography Portfolio

A photography portfolio with a vintage feel using grayscale effects and hover transitions.

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export default function VintagePortfolio() {
  const photographs = [
    {
      id: 1,
      title: "Urban Landscapes",
      category: "Architecture",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1449824913935-59a10b8d2000",
      alt: "Urban architecture photograph"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      title: "Street Life",
      category: "Documentary",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1586714316778-3cc49cacd73e?w=800&auto=format&fit=crop&q=60&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8NHx8c3RyZWV0JTIwbGlmZXxlbnwwfHwwfHx8MA%3D%3D",
      alt: "Street photography"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      title: "Nature's Harmony",
      category: "Landscape",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1470071459604-3b5ec3a7fe05",
      alt: "Natural landscape photograph"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      title: "Portrait Study",
      category: "Portrait",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1501196354995-cbb51c65aaea",
      alt: "Portrait photograph"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      title: "Abstract Forms",
      category: "Abstract",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541701494587-cb58502866ab",
      alt: "Abstract photograph"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      title: "City Nights",
      category: "Night",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1477959858617-67f85cf4f1df",
      alt: "Night city photograph"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-black p-8">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-3 gap-8">
        {photographs.map((photo) => (
          <div key={photo.id} className="group relative overflow-hidden">
            <img
              src={photo.src}
              alt={photo.alt}
              className="w-full h-[400px] object-cover filter grayscale group-hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-500"
            />
            <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-black to-transparent p-6 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-300">
              <h3 className="text-white text-xl font-bold">{photo.title}</h3>
              <p className="text-gray-300">{photo.category}</p>
            </div>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Movie Poster Collection

A movie poster gallery with grayscale effects that reveal color on interaction.

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export default function MoviePosters() {
  const movies = [
    {
      id: 1,
      title: "The Dark Night",
      year: "2022",
      rating: "9.2",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485846234645-a62644f84728",
      alt: "The Dark Night movie poster"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      title: "Ocean's Dream",
      year: "2023",
      rating: "8.8",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536440136628-849c177e76a1",
      alt: "Ocean's Dream movie poster"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      title: "Silent Echo",
      year: "2023",
      rating: "8.5",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517604931442-7e0c8ed2963c",
      alt: "Silent Echo movie poster"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      title: "Urban Legend",
      year: "2022",
      rating: "8.9",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1478720568477-152d9b164e26",
      alt: "Urban Legend movie poster"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      title: "Lost Paradise",
      year: "2023",
      rating: "9.0",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536440136628-849c177e76a1",
      alt: "Lost Paradise movie poster"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      title: "The Last Stand",
      year: "2022",
      rating: "8.7",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517604931442-7e0c8ed2963c",
      alt: "The Last Stand movie poster"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-gray-900 p-8">
      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-6 gap-4">
        {movies.map((movie) => (
          <div key={movie.id} className="group relative">
            <img
              src={movie.src}
              alt={movie.alt}
              className="w-full h-80 object-cover filter grayscale hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-500"
            />
            <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black bg-opacity-50 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-300 flex flex-col justify-end p-4">
              <h3 className="text-white font-bold">{movie.title}</h3>
              <div className="flex justify-between text-gray-300 text-sm">
                <span>{movie.year}</span>
                <span>★ {movie.rating}</span>
              </div>
            </div>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Brand Logo Showcase

A responsive brand logo showcase with grayscale effect that reveals original colors on hover.

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export default function BrandShowcase() {
  const brands = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: "TechCorp",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "TechCorp logo"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: "Innovate Inc",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "Innovate Inc logo"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: "Future Systems",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "Future Systems logo"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      name: "Global Tech",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "Global Tech logo"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      name: "Digital Solutions",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "Digital Solutions logo"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      name: "Smart Systems",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599305445671-ac291c95aaa9",
      alt: "Smart Systems logo"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-white py-16 px-8">
      <h2 className="text-3xl font-bold text-center mb-12">Our Partners</h2>
      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-6 gap-8">
        {brands.map((brand) => (
          <div
            key={brand.id}
            className="flex items-center justify-center p-4 bg-gray-50 rounded-lg"
          >
            <img
              src={brand.src}
              alt={brand.alt}
              className="h-16 object-contain filter grayscale hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-300 transform hover:scale-110"
            />
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Historical Timeline Gallery

A historical timeline gallery with grayscale images that reveal color on scroll/hover.

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export default function HistoricalTimeline() {
  const events = [
    {
      id: 1,
      year: "1920",
      title: "The Golden Age",
      description: "The era of economic prosperity and cultural innovation",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516920846492-81bc6da9fc38",
      alt: "1920s historical photo"
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      year: "1940",
      title: "Industrial Revolution",
      description: "Major technological and industrial advancements",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517404215738-15263e9f9178",
      alt: "1940s historical photo"
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      year: "1960",
      title: "Cultural Revolution",
      description: "Period of significant social and cultural change",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1533630757306-cbadb934bcb1",
      alt: "1960s historical photo"
    },
    {
      id: 4,
      year: "1980",
      title: "Digital Dawn",
      description: "Beginning of the computer age",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1525547719571-a2d4ac8945e2",
      alt: "1980s historical photo"
    },
    {
      id: 5,
      year: "2000",
      title: "New Millennium",
      description: "Dawn of the internet era",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1451187580459-43490279c0fa",
      alt: "2000s historical photo"
    },
    {
      id: 6,
      year: "2020",
      title: "Modern Era",
      description: "Age of digital transformation",
      src: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1519389950473-47ba0277781c",
      alt: "2020s historical photo"
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="bg-gray-100 p-8">
      <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
        {events.map((event, index) => (
          <div
            key={event.id}
            className={`flex flex-col md:flex-row items-center gap-8 mb-16 ${
              index % 2 === 0 ? 'md:flex-row' : 'md:flex-row-reverse'
            }`}
          >
            <div className="w-full md:w-1/2">
              <img
                src={event.src}
                alt={event.alt}
                className="w-full h-80 object-cover rounded-lg shadow-lg filter grayscale hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-500"
              />
            </div>
            <div className="w-full md:w-1/2 space-y-4">
              <div className="text-4xl font-bold text-gray-900">{event.year}</div>
              <h3 className="text-2xl font-semibold text-gray-800">
                {event.title}
              </h3>
              <p className="text-gray-600">{event.description}</p>
            </div>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Customization Examples

Custom Grayscale Photo Gallery with Hover Effects

This example creates a photo gallery where images are initially grayscaled but return to full color on hover, using custom grayscale values.

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import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

// App.js
export default function GrayscaleGallery() {
  const images = [
    {
      id: 1,
      url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1682687220566-5599dbbebf11',
      title: 'Nature'
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1520264834865-7effb972c224?w=800&auto=format&fit=crop&q=60&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8MTR8fGFyY2hpdGVjdHVyZXxlbnwwfHwwfHx8MA%3D%3D',
      title: 'Architecture'
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500835556837-99ac94a94552?w=800&auto=format&fit=crop&q=60&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8M3x8dHJhdmVsfGVufDB8fDB8fHww',
      title: 'Travel'
    }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-4 p-8 bg-gray-100 h-screen">
      {images.map((image) => (
        <div 
          key={image.id}
          className="overflow-hidden rounded-lg shadow-xl"
        >
          <img
            src={image.url}
            alt={image.title}
            className="w-full h-screen object-cover transition-all duration-300
                       grayscale-90 hover:grayscale-0 hover:scale-105"
          />
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Custom Photography Portfolio Grid

This example demonstrates a photography portfolio using custom grayscale values to create a modern, monochromatic grid layout with hover effects.

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import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

// App.js
export default function PhotographyGrid() {
  const photos = [
    { id: 1, url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1520264834865-7effb972c224', title: 'Urban Architecture' },
    { id: 2, url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1500835556837-99ac94a94552', title: 'Portrait' },
    { id: 3, url: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1682687220566-5599dbbebf11', title: 'Nature' },
  ];

  return (
    <div className="container mx-auto p-8">
      <h1 className="text-4xl font-bold mb-8 text-gray-800">Portfolio</h1>
      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
        {photos.map((photo) => (
          <div key={photo.id} className="relative group">
            <img
              src={photo.url}
              alt={photo.title}
              className="w-full h-[400px] object-cover filter grayscale-intense hover:grayscale-0 
              transition-all duration-500 ease-in-out"
            />
            <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 bg-black bg-opacity-50 text-white p-4 
            opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-300">
              <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold">{photo.title}</h3>
            </div>
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Grayscale Theme Switcher

This example creates a theme switcher that applies different grayscale levels to the entire content section.

This is a live editor. Play around with it!

import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

// App.js
import { useState } from 'react';

export default function ThemeSwitcher() {
  const [grayscaleLevel, setGrayscaleLevel] = useState('0');

  const grayscaleOptions = [
    { value: '0', label: 'No Grayscale' },
    { value: '15', label: 'Subtle' },
    { value: '45', label: 'Medium' },
    { value: '95', label: 'High' }
  ];

  return (
    <div className="min-h-screen bg-gray-50 p-8">
      <div className="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
        <div className="mb-6 flex gap-4 flex-wrap">
          {grayscaleOptions.map((option) => (
            <button
              key={option.value}
              onClick={() => setGrayscaleLevel(option.value)}
              className={`px-4 py-2 rounded-md ${
                grayscaleLevel === option.value
                  ? 'bg-blue-600 text-white'
                  : 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-700'
              }`}
            >
              {option.label}
            </button>
          ))}
        </div>
        
        <div className={`transition-all duration-300 grayscale-${grayscaleLevel}`}>
          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-6">
            <img
              src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1682687220199-d0124f48f95b"
              alt="Content 1"
              className="w-full h-64 object-cover rounded-lg"
            />
            <div className="space-y-4">
              <h2 className="text-3xl font-bold">Content Section</h2>
              <p className="text-gray-600">
                This content section demonstrates different grayscale levels
                that can be applied using the theme switcher above.
              </p>
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Best Practices

Maintain Design Consistency

It is essential to define a clear strategy for when and where grayscale styling should be integrated, such as on images, cards, or interactive components. This approach prevents an inconsistent or chaotic aesthetic. For instance, grayscale can be reserved for less prominent UI elements or placeholder images to subtly guide user attention to prioritized content.

Moreover, while using grayscale for specific design assets, it’s helpful to maintain a centralized configuration in your Tailwind theme, especially if custom levels of grayscale are needed. Define custom values in your tailwind.config.js so they remain consistent throughout the application. This streamlines updates and avoids style fragmentation when scaling your UI. For instance, adding grayscale-25 and grayscale-75 values in the configuration allows consistent reuse of partial grayscales across multiple contexts.

Leverage Utility Combinations

Combining multiple Tailwind utilities is an effective way to achieve design complexity without sacrificing clarity or maintainability. For example, pairing grayscale with scaling classes allows you to implement dynamic and engaging user interactions. Such combinations add depth to the UI while maintaining Tailwind’s utility-first principles.

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import tailwindConfig from "./tailwind.config.js";
tailwind.config = tailwindConfig;

export default function UtilityPairing() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen flex justify-center items-center bg-gray-100">
      <img
        src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517059224940-d4af9eec41b7"
        alt="Office Workspace"
        className="grayscale-75 hover:grayscale-0 transition-all duration-500 hover:scale-110 rounded-lg"
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Accessibility Considerations

Enhance Readability and Navigability

Grayscale effects can subtly impact the readability and clarity of content. Adding grayscale to non-text elements like images ensures they support, rather than compete with, the surrounding textual narrative. Additionally, pairing grayscale images with text utilities like text-gray-700 or text-lg maintains visual coherence and prioritizes critical content.

When designing for accessibility, avoid overusing grayscale filters on primary content or CTAs (Call-To-Actions). Important elements should maintain their distinctiveness to guide user interactions. Furthermore, ensure sufficient padding, margin, and alignment around grayscale-treated elements to improve visual flow.

Focus on High Contrast

High contrast ratios are a fundamental accessibility requirement, especially for users with visual impairments. Use grayscale filters sparingly on interactive elements such as links or buttons, ensuring they remain visually distinguishable from their surroundings. Pair grayscale utilities with Tailwind's hover or focus states to dynamically manage contrast for user acknowledgment and interaction.

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export default function HighContrastCTA() {
  return (
    <div className="h-screen flex justify-center items-center bg-gray-900">
      <button className="py-3 px-6 rounded-lg bg-gray-800 hover:bg-gray-600 text-white hover:grayscale-0 grayscale">
        Click Me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
}

Hue Rotate Saturate