A-Z Popular Blog Design Search »
Color Theory
 Advertisements
Related Guides
Complementary Colors
top   »  color theory   »  complementary colors

What are Complementary Colors?

 , updated on
Complementary colors are colors that cancel each other out when combined to produce a grayscale color between white and black. When placed side-by-side, complementary colors have the highest possible contrast with one another. This has implications for aesthetics and practical applications. For example, life vests are often designed to be orange as this complements the blue color of the sea, thus maximizing visibility.
Overview: Complementary Colors
Function
Color Theory
Design
Definition
Colors that cancel each other out when combined to create a grayscale color.
Value
Maximizing or avoiding color contrast
Examples
blue & orange
red & green
purple & yellow
Related Concepts
Analogous Color

Color Theory

This is the complete list of articles we have written about color theory.
Analogous Color
Chroma
Color
Color Combinations
Color Depth
Color Harmony
Color is Real
Color Perception
Color Purity
Color Saturation
Color Scheme
Color Space
Color Symbolism
Color Temperature
Colorimetry
Complementary Colors
Corporate Colors
Heat Map
Hue
Impossible Colors
Lightness
Matching
Monochromatic Color
Primary Colors
Rainbow Colors
Saturation
Spectral Color
Tints And Shades
Visible Spectrum
If you enjoyed this page, please consider bookmarking Simplicable.
 
Cite »

Opposite Colors

A list of useful complementary colors as a palette.

Design

A comprehensive guide to design.

Color Theory

An overview of color theory.

Layout vs Composition

The difference between layout and composition.

Modeless vs Contextual

The difference between modeless and contextual user interfaces explained.

Types Of Design

A list of common types of design.

Design Process

The steps in a design process.

Design Quality

The common types of design quality.

Universal Design

A definition of universal design with examples.

Sensory Design

A definition of sensory design with examples.

Emotional Design

An overview of emotional design.

Elegance

The definition of elegance with examples.

Urban Design

A few common urban design terms.

Green Walls vs Green Facades

The difference between a green wall and green facade.

Sustainable Urban Design

A list of sustainable urban design techniques.

Passive Design vs Active Design

The difference between active and passive design.

Street Canyon

How a street canyon changes an urban environment.

Parti Pris

An overview of parti pris in architecture with an example.

City Issues

A list of common city issues.

Community Problems

A list of common community problems.

Things In Cities

An a-z list of things in cities.

City Types

An list of the common types of city.

Trending

The most popular articles on Simplicable in the past day.

New Articles

Recent posts or updates on Simplicable.
Site Map
Aesthetics
Architecture
Art
Branding Guide
Business Analysis
Colors
Computing
Creativity
Culture
Customer Experience
Customer Perceptions
Design
Design Considerations
Design Principles
DIY
Education
Graphic Design
Knowledge
Market Research
Marketing
Materials
Named Colors
Product Design
More ...
© 2010-2023 Simplicable. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of materials found on this site, in any form, without explicit permission is prohibited.

View credits & copyrights or citation information for this page.

Home About     Privacy Policy     Cookies Terms of Use     Contact Us Search


Cookies help us deliver our services. You have choices regarding these cookies. Please visit our privacy policy, cookie policy and consent tool to learn more.


Copyright 2002-2024 Simplicable. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or translated. Report violations here.