18 Opposites of Green

John Spacey, February 14, 2021

The opposite of green, also known as the complement of green, is the color that has maximum contrast with green. Traditional color models list this as red as they are based on an old theory known as opponent process theory that has been largely discredited by modern studies. In optics, the complement of green is magenta. The following are complements of various green colors that can be considered opposites.

Green
#00ff00

Magenta
#ff00ff

Lime
#bfff00

Blueberry
#4000ff

Mantis
#74C365

Shell Purple
#8b3c9a

Forest Green
#014421

Pink Chalk
#febbde

Mint
#3eb489

Red Rose
#c14b76

Artichoke
#8f9779

Dark Lavender
#706886

Dark Moss Green
#4A5D23

Lavender
#b5a2dc

Avocado
#568203

Bright Violet
#a97dfc

Jungle Green
#29ab87

Light Ruby
#d65478

Asparagus
#87A96B

Medium Purple
#785694

Myrtle green
#317873

Dull Red
#ce878c

Tea Green
#d0f0c0

Midnight Purple
#2f0f3f

Pine Green
#01796f

Neon Salmon
#fe8690

Olive
#808000

Pericallis Hybrida
#7f7fff

Malachite
#0BDA51

Bright Pink
#f425ae

Dark Green
#006400

Cotton Candy
#ff9bff

Paris Green
#50c878

True Grape
#af3787

Gotham Green
#00573f

Baby Pink
#ffa8c0

Notes

The complements above are calculated as the inverse number for each red, green, blue hexadecimal. These are optical complements in terms of the RGB model.

The opponent process theory as proposed in 1892 by the German physiologist Ewald Hering has been largely discredited by modern studies. Many color models taught in schools such as color wheels are based on this theory.

Color wheels commonly list the complement of green as red whereas the optical complement is magenta. Here they are for comparison:

Green
#00ff00

Magenta
#ff00ff

Green
#00ff00

Red
#ff0000

As you can tell from the samples above, both have very high contrast. Modern research suggests that the brain perceives higher contrast between optical complements as calculated above (see references below).

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References

Pridmore, Ralph W.. "Single cell spectrally opposed responses: opponent colours or complementary colours?". Journal of Optics. October 2012.

Mollon, J. D., and C. R. Cavonius. "The chromatic antagonisms of opponent process theory are not the same as those revealed in studies of detection and discrimination." Colour vision deficiencies VIII. Springer, Dordrecht, 1987. 473-483.