complementary colour

The term "complementary colour" is essential in art, design, and colour science for creating strong visual contrasts and neutral tones.

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Definition

B2Art and Design

(general)A hue that is directly opposite another on the colour wheel, creating a high-contrast, visually striking effect when paired.

Example

  • Using blue and orange together in a painting can create a powerful complementary colour contrast.
  • Designers often use complementary colours to draw attention to key elements in a layout.

C1Colour Science

(technical)Two hues that, when combined, produce a neutral shade like white or grey.

Example

  • In colour science, mixing red and green light results in white, illustrating the concept of complementary colours.
  • Complementary colours can neutralize each other, producing grey when mixed in pigments.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "complementary colour":

pair of colourscomplementary antonymcomplementary anglescolour coordinatecolour wheelcolor coordinatefield colourscolor coordinationcolour codeof color