Semester 2, Week 11: Complementary Colors

Complementary Colors

Before we start, I want to run through a quick spelling lesson. When you give someone a compliment, you are telling them something nice about themselves. When something complements something else, it goes along well with it. Notice the spelling different: compliment versus complement.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Take a look at the color wheel (ok, color star) below.

See the lines connecting each color? These are showing complementary colors.

Using complementary colors effectively can create a visual contrast that can make your subject stand out, as well as capture the viewer's eye.

Take a look at some sports team logos.

See how the Lakers' logo is purple and gold?

Purple (violet) and gold (yellow) are opposite each other on the color wheel.

The Knicks' logo is blue and orange.

Blue and orange are across from each other on the color wheel, and therefore are complementary colors.

When you think of Christmas colors, what colors do you think of? Red and green?

Green tree, red ornament.

These are also complementary colors!

Remember this photo from earlier this semester? It's called Afghan Girl, and it was the Iconic Photo of the Week for Week 3 of this semester.

The complementary colors in this photo are red and green--the red of her scarf and hair contrasts with the green of her eyes, shirt, and the wall behind her. This was absolutely an intentional move by the photographer to help create an effect in this photo.