The color that is directly across from purple on the standard color wheel is yellow. This can be determined by looking at a basic 12-color color wheel and finding the color that is located opposite purple.
How the Color Wheel Works
The basic color wheel consists of 12 main colors – red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, violet, and red-violet. The colors are arranged in a circular pattern, with complementary colors located opposite each other.
Complementary colors are color pairs that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They create striking color contrasts and vibrancy when placed next to each other. Some examples of complementary pairs are:
- Red and green
- Blue and orange
- Yellow and purple
The reason complementary colors are located opposite each other is because they contain no hues in common. Mixing complementary colors together creates a neutral gray or brown shade.
Determining Purple’s Complementary Color
To find the complementary color for purple:
- Locate purple on the color wheel. Purple is between violet and red-violet.
- Identify the color directly across from purple. This is yellow, between yellow-green and yellow-orange.
Therefore, the complementary color of purple is yellow.
Properties of Purple and Yellow
Purple and yellow have strongly contrasting properties that allow them to stand out when paired together. Here is a comparison of some of their key characteristics:
| Color | Hue Family | Temperature | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | Secondary color – mixture of red and blue | Cool color | High intensity |
| Yellow | Primary color | Warm color | High intensity |
As shown in the table, purple and yellow have contrasting hue families, color temperatures, and intensities. Purple is a secondary cool color, while yellow is a primary warm color. Both are high intensity colors. These opposing properties create visual interest and vibrancy.
Using Complementary Colors in Design
Complementary color pairs like purple and yellow are frequently utilized by artists and designers. When used together, they can create bold, eye-catching combinations. Here are some ways purple and yellow are used in design:
- Accent colors – Purple text or graphics can pop against a yellow background, and vice versa.
- Complementary schemes – Entire color schemes can be built using different tints, shades, and tones of purple and yellow.
- Warning signs – Yellow and purple signal caution when used together on traffic signs, hazards, etc.
- Graphics – Complementary colors create striking flyers, posters, advertisements, etc.
- Packaging – Foods, toys, and other products often use purple and yellow to stand out.
- Apparel – From sports team uniforms to fashion lines, purple and yellow make bold statements.
Though high contrast, designers skillfully balance and integrate complementary color pairs to create appealing compositions.
Examples of Purple and Yellow Together
Here are some real-world examples that utilize the purple and yellow complementary pair:
Company Logos
- Cadbury – Uses purple and yellow in their iconic chocolate logo.
- Yahoo – Combines purple and yellow in their logo.
- Rockstar Games – Their logo features purple and yellow accents.
- Twitch – Their purple and yellow-orange logo pops.
Sports Teams
- Los Angeles Lakers – Their jerseys showcase purple and gold.
- Minnesota Vikings – They sport purple and yellow uniforms.
- Brazil National Team – Their badge contains purple and yellow.
Nature
- Sunflowers – Their bright yellow petals contrast with their purple centers.
- Jacaranda trees – They produce purple blossoms with yellow centers.
- Grapes – Their purple skin contrasts with the yellow-green flesh.
These examples demonstrate how purple and yellow are combined in visually striking ways across various industries and niches.
Psychology of Purple and Yellow
In color psychology, purple and yellow produce contradictory emotions and associations:
| Purple | Yellow |
|---|---|
|
|
Purple evokes qualities like extravagance, invention, and ambiguity. Yellow represents joy, vitality, and intellect. Skillful designers utilize these psychological effects to send desired messages through their color choices.
Conclusion
In summary, yellow is directly across from purple on the standard 12-color wheel. As complementary colors with contrasting properties, purple and yellow create striking combinations when used together in design. Their opposing psychological effects allow designers to make bold visual statements. So the next time you see vivid purple and yellow together, you’ll know it’s more than a happy accident – it’s color theory at work.
