Complementary color schemes are based on colors opposite to each other on a color wheel. Popular choices in art, design and branding, they are used to create bright, high-impact visuals. But that’s not always the case. Certain variants of the complementary scheme offer you a chance to be more subtle and subdued. Keep reading to find out which ones!
In this Chart, we explore the sheer magic of complementary colors by studying different types of complementary schemes out there. We also offer insights into the process of color mixing and blending when working with complementary colors.
To learn more about the different types of color schemes at your disposal as a designer, feel free to check out our Color Wheel Charts on monochromatic, analogous, and triadic color schemes as well.
Now, let’s go over this Chart in more detail:
Finding a Base Color and its Color Complement
A complementary color scheme is made of any base color and its color complement(s). In a circular color wheel, each color is defined by an angle from 0 to 360°.
To find the color complement of your base hue, you just need to add or subtract 180° (360/2) from the given hue.
In a traditional RYB color model, like the one shown in our Chart, the complementary color pairs are:
- Red and green (See above)
- Blue and orange
- Yellow and purple
Remember, complementary pairs vary for different color models. For instance, in an RGB additive color model, your complementary pairs are red–cyan, green–magenta, and blue–yellow.
In a CMYK subtractive color model, your complementary pairs are red–cyan, green–magenta, and blue–yellow.
As you can see, a pair of complementary colors is made up of one warm color and one cool color. This harmony has high contrast – and comes in handy when you want one color element to stand out and be the star of the piece.
What’s in Our Chart
Featuring a 12-color wheel, our Chart shows three rings.
Each ring refers to a type of complementary color scheme: Simple, Split Complementary, and Double Complementary.
The First Ring contains 6 pairs of a simple complementary scheme (e.g., red and green).
The Second Outer Ring shows 12 color sets for split complementary pairs, when a base color is matched with two colors next to its color complement.
The Third Outer Ring has 3 combinations for a double split complementary scheme, when two complementary pairs are used for a four-color palette.
Split Complementary Schemes
Once you know your base color, go to the color opposite in the wheel and choose the two colors located on either side of that. That’s a split-complementary scheme.
The main advantage of using a split-complementary scheme is that they are easier to work than simple complementary schemes. While the latter has high contrast and high tension between colors, a split version is more nuanced, and helps you avoid any loud color clashes.
Double Complementary Scheme
A double complementary scheme is based on two pairs of color complements, say, red, yellow-green, and blue-green (See Chart).
To make your life easy, we have shown the three most basic combinations of a double complementary:
Let’s say, you want to create a more warm and cozy atmosphere for your new lounge using this scheme.
You will need to let the the warmer colors in the scheme stand out – such as red, honey or certain shades of blue (depending on what color complements you use)
Now give maximum coverage to these colors, using them for your wall paint, rugs and furniture. warm
To stay within the double complementary scheme, you will need to use cool colors as accents, say, cushions or a table-piece.
Without the proper color balance and harmony, a double complementary scheme can look busy and mismatched – so you might want to be extra careful to create visual balance in your work,
Useful Chart Features
Our Chart comes with a number of cool features:
Rotation feature
The rotation feature in our chart helps you find possible color pairs and trios without unnecessary representation.
This makes it easier for you to graphically visualize all the possible simple, split and double complementary pairs & sets you can spot on a color wheel.
Color Blending Diagram
Our color blending diagram can be useful if you want to see how complementary color pairs interact. We use a graduating gradient to show how pairs of color complements (of the same hues) look together.
The diagram shows how color pairs blend and contrast, enhancing visual impact in all these areas.
This is done to help you find the right pop effect for your own design. In art, it makes features stand out; in branding, it forms bold visuals; in film, it sets mood and focus; and in interior design, it balances energy.
Color Mixing Chart
The Color Mixing Chart shows what happens when you mix any 2, 3, or 4 colors, depending on what scheme you have chosen to work with.
These new color mixtures, such as light brown (on mixing red and green), can give you an overview of the mixing range of your palette colors.
Be advised that when complimentary colors mix – they almost never make a “pretty” color. This is good to know when doing fluid art (acrylics, resin, alcohol inks, watercolor, etc).
To sum up, color has a big impact on how we perceive an image. And if you’re looking for a bold and high-contrast yet flexible color approach – a complementary scheme has got you covered.
We hope that this graphic toolkit containing useful color wheels, rotation features, and color blending diagrams helps you create the perfect color harmony and strong visual interest for your own design.
Our expertly made Color Wheel Chart: Complementary Color Wheel and Angles can be downloaded in PDF and ADOBE formats. A blank version has also been provided to help you brush up your own design or artistic skills.
Note that the combinations and schemes shown in these charts may vary significantly based on the medium used (e.g., watercolor, acrylic, digital) and the color model (e.g., CMYK, RGB, HSL).
In addition, display settings (such as night mode and resolution) can also affect color appearance. To avoid errors, always remember to test colors in your specific context for more accurate results.
