- Opposite colors (or complementary colors) contrast strongly with each other.
- If you look at a color wheel, you’ll see that complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel.
- Purple’s opposite color is yellow on the color wheel.
Have you ever wondered what color is the opposite of purple on the color wheel?
If you’re diving into color theory, opposite colors are one of the most important things to learn. They are also called complementary colors as they have a strong contrast. But at the same time, these colors look fantastic when used together.
The short answer is that on the color wheel, opposite of purple, you’ll find the color yellow. So, that makes purple and yellow complementary colors. But let’s take a closer look at what that means in this article!
What Are Opposite Colors (or Complementary Colors)?
Complementary colors is another term for opposite colors. It refers to colors that are exactly opposite each other on the color wheel.
These colors have the highest contrast, so they stand out strongly when used together. And when you mix two complementary colors, you’ll make the color black.
Why You Need to Know What Purple’s Opposite Color is on the Color Wheel
Understanding complementary colors can help you choose which colors to pair together. Using complementary colors makes a big impact as they have such high contrast. So, they look even brighter and more eye-catching when used next to each other.
But you can also mix complementary colors to create a neutral gray or black shade. And that’s also useful information to have as an artist.
So, there are several reasons why you need to know complementary colors. Now you know that purple and yellow are opposite colors, you can make better color decisions. For example, you might use yellow and purple together on the canvas. That will create a dynamic and bold painting that will catch the eye.
Or, if you have a limited set of paints, you could mix them to create gray. That could make color mixing easier and help you to make the perfect shade.
Purple and Yellow: Complementary Colors
So, now you know that yellow is purple’s complementary color. These colors look amazing when paired together due to their strong contrast.
Yellow is a bright, warm color, while purple is a cooler color but just as rich. These colors help to balance each other out. When paired together, yellow makes the purple look even deeper and bolder. So, the colors really pop and stand out when juxtaposed.
Purple is a color associated with royalty and power. And as yellow is so close to gold, you can create a sophisticated and luxurious look with these colors.
However, you’ll need to pick your shades carefully to make sure they work well together. For example, you should pick out shades with a similar saturation level.
For example, a mustard yellow will pair well with a deep royal purple. But a rich yellow will wash out a light purple. And if you want a more whimsical color palette, you could use pastel yellow and purple together.
Interestingly, when you mix yellow and purple, you’ll create a murky gray-brown shade. If you combine dark yellow and purple, you’ll end up with a shade close to black. And that’s because complementary colors neutralize each other.
The Wrap Up
Yellow is opposite purple on the color wheel, making them complementary colors. Armed with this information, you can create more mature color compositions. You’ll feel more confident using these colors in your art or even mixing them to make a new color.
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