How can saturation affect a color's appearance?

Saturation is a key aspect of color that refers to the intensity or purity of a hue. When saturation is high, colors appear more vivid and intense; they are closer to their original, unadulterated hue. This is why a highly saturated red will look bright and eye-catching. Conversely, when saturation is low, colors become more muted and can appear more gray or dull. Essentially, lowering saturation dilutes the color, leading to softer and less intense tones.

So, in the context of the question, the correct response highlights that higher saturation contributes to the vividness of colors, making them stand out more, while lower saturation results in muted tones that lack the brightness and clarity of their saturated counterparts.