Which term describes two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel?

Which term describes two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel?

• A. Primary colors
• B. Secondary colors
• C. Complementary colors
• D. Tertiary colors

Answer: (C)

Complementary colors are two colors that sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel. This opposite pairing creates the strongest possible contrast, so the colors look more vibrant when placed together and can make designs feel lively and dynamic. In practice, artists use complementary schemes to make elements stand out or to achieve visual balance; they also tend to neutralize each other when mixed—pigments produce a gray or brown, while light can yield white. Examples include red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. The other groups—primary, secondary, and tertiary—describe how colors are created, not their position on the wheel, so they don’t describe this opposite relationship.

Complementary colors are two colors that sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel. This opposite pairing creates the strongest possible contrast, so the colors look more vibrant when placed together and can make designs feel lively and dynamic. In practice, artists use complementary schemes to make elements stand out or to achieve visual balance; they also tend to neutralize each other when mixed—pigments produce a gray or brown, while light can yield white. Examples include red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. The other groups—primary, secondary, and tertiary—describe how colors are created, not their position on the wheel, so they don’t describe this opposite relationship.