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

• A. Complementary colors
• B. Analogous colors
• C. Monochromatic scheme
• D. Primary colors

Answer: (A)

Complementary colors are colors opposite each other on the color wheel. On a typical wheel, red sits opposite green, blue opposite orange, and yellow opposite violet. This opposite placement creates the strongest possible contrast, so adjacent complementary colors make each other look more vivid and intense. In paint, mixing them tends to dull the color toward a neutral, while in light they cancel toward white. This is why the term describes colors opposite on the wheel. For context, colors next to each other are analogous, variations of one hue form a monochromatic scheme, and primary colors are the basic starting hues.