Complementary Color Finder
Find the complementary (opposite) of any color, its RGB inverse, and the readable text color to use on it.
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What Is a Complementary Color?
Two colors are complementary when they sit opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart in hue). Placed side by side they intensify each other, which makes the complement the natural choice for accents and calls-to-action. This tool also shows the RGB inverse (255 minus each channel — the "photo negative") and the readable text color (black or white) for your input, decided by luminance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Complementary vs. inverse — what is the difference?
The complement flips only the hue on the color wheel, keeping saturation and lightness; the RGB inverse flips every channel (255−R, 255−G, 255−B) like a photo negative. For a mid-gray they differ dramatically.
When should I use the complementary color?
As a small accent — buttons, links, highlights — over a design dominated by the base color. Using both at full strength in equal amounts tends to vibrate and tire the eye.
How is the text color decided?
From the color's perceived luminance (YIQ formula): light backgrounds get dark text and vice versa, keeping contrast readable.
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Complementary Color Finder