A complement is the direct opposite of a specific hue on a color wheel or chromaticity diagram. In additive color mixing with light, combining a color and its exact complement yields pure white light. Lighting designers use complementary gels or LED channels to create stark contrast on stage or to neutralize an unwanted color cast in a wash.
Heard on the job
If the skin tones are looking too green under these fluorescents, add a magenta complement to balance it out.
Also heard as
- complementary color
Related terms
Chromaticity diagram
The horseshoe-shaped chart that maps every visible color by its chromaticity coordinates.
Saturate
To increase the purity of a color by removing broadband white light components.
Gel
A sheet of colored or diffusing plastic film placed in front of a lighting fixture to change its color or quality.