What are complementary colors and how due different wavelengths of light affect the original color?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_color
Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when combined, create contrast and reinforce each other. The concept of complementary colors is based on the color wheel, which is a circular arrangement of colors.
To understand how different wavelengths of light affect the original color, we need to delve into the physics of light and the properties of color.
Light is made up of different wavelengths, and each wavelength corresponds to a specific color. When light strikes an object, the surface of the object absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others. The reflected wavelengths determine the color that we perceive.
The color wheel is divided into primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) and secondary colors (orange, green, and purple). When primary colors are combined, they form secondary colors. For instance, red and yellow combine to create orange, red and blue create purple, and blue and yellow produce green.
Complementary colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel. When complementary colors are combined, they create a powerful contrast because they contain wavelengths that cancel each other out. For example, red and green are complementary colors, as are blue and orange, and yellow and purple.
When different wavelengths of light hit an object, the wavelengths that are reflected determine the color we perceive. If an object primarily reflects red light, it will appear red. However, if that object is illuminated with green light (which is the complementary color of red), the red light will be absorbed, and the object will appear dark or black. This phenomenon occurs because the wavelengths of green light effectively cancel out the wavelengths of red light.
In summary, complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when combined, create a powerful contrast. This contrast is due to the cancellation of specific wavelengths in the light spectrum, resulting in visual effects that enhance the perception of both colors.