Which color is complementary to red in additive color mixing?

Which color is complementary to red in additive color mixing?

• A. Cyan
• B. Magenta
• C. Yellow
• D. Blue

Answer: (A)

In additive color mixing, light colors combine to make white when all three primaries are present: red, green, and blue. A color’s complement is the color that, when added, yields white light. Cyan is light that contains both green and blue components. When red light is added to cyan light, all three primary light components (red, green, blue) are present, producing white. So cyan is the color that complements red in this system. The other options don’t complete red to white: blue adds only blue, which with red makes magenta; magenta is red plus blue; yellow is red plus green. In additive mixing, the red complement is cyan.

In additive color mixing, light colors combine to make white when all three primaries are present: red, green, and blue. A color’s complement is the color that, when added, yields white light. Cyan is light that contains both green and blue components. When red light is added to cyan light, all three primary light components (red, green, blue) are present, producing white. So cyan is the color that complements red in this system.

The other options don’t complete red to white: blue adds only blue, which with red makes magenta; magenta is red plus blue; yellow is red plus green. In additive mixing, the red complement is cyan.