A Guide to Use Complementary Colors for Enhancing Videos

Mastering complementary colors can significantly enhance your content visuals. This guide explores some knowledge about complementary color wheels and how to use them effectively to make your works stand out. We'll also show you how to use CapCut to create stunning videos with these color combinations.

What is the color wheel

The color wheel is a circular diagram that represents the relationship between different colors. It typically includes primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Designers, photographers, and video editors use it to visualize how colors interact and complement one another. It is essential for identifying colors that can be paired together effectively.

Types of color wheel

• RYB (red, yellow, blue) color wheel: Traditionally used in art and design, the RYB color wheel represents primary colors that, when combined, form other colors. This is typically used in painting and other visual arts.
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• RGB (red, green, blue) color wheel
• The RGB color wheel is primarily used in digital screens and electronic media. When red, green, and blue are combined, they create white light, making this color model ideal for video editing.
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You can easily find the color wheels for complementary colors that work harmoniously in the next part. Let's learn what complementary colors are.

What are complementary colors

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel. When used together, the complementary colors of color wheels create a vibrant contrast, making both colors appear more intense.

Types of complementary colors

Direct complementary

Direct complementary color refers to the opposite colors on the color wheel. When the two complementary colors are placed side by side, they can produce a strong contrast effect and enhance visual impact.

• Red + green
• Blue + orange
• Yellow + purple

Split complementary

Split complementary color consists of a main color and two colors on either side of its complementary color. This can maintain the contrast effect of complementary color but reduce the strong conflict caused by direct complementary color.

• Blue + red orange + yellow-orange
• Red + blue-green + yellow-green
• Green + purple + red-purple

Triadic complementary

Triadic complementary color consists of three colors evenly distributed on the color wheel, forming a triangle. By using triadic complementary colors, the works can achieve visual balance and make them look more harmonious.

• Green + orange + purple
• Red + yellow + blue
• Yellow-green + blue-violet + red-orange

Now that you know the basics of color wheels and complementary colors, like what color wheels and complementary colors are and what types they have, you might be curious about the uses of complementary colors in the design. The following section discusses this.

Uses and emotions of complementary colors in design

• Fashion design
• Complementary colors like red and green can create bold, eye-catching outfits, often seen during festive seasons. They evoke energy and passion.
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• Interior design
• Blue and orange are commonly used in modern interiors to create a calming yet lively ambiance. This contrast brings warmth and harmony to living spaces.
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• Art design
• Yellow and purple can bring out a painting's luminosity and intensity, making certain elements stand out.
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These are some popular uses of complementary colors. The following section discusses one of the best tools, CapCut, for making videos using complementary color wheels.

Make colorful videos using the complementary color wheel in CapCut

CapCut is a popular video editing tool. If you are looking for a color wheel to polish the videos, it is the best choice. CapCut offers a wide range of color tools, such as the color wheels, curves, HSL, and basic color adjustments to fine-tune the color scheme in your video. Dive into CapCut to bring your videos to life with stunning complementary colors!

Key features

• Color wheel: CapCut offers a primary color wheel and a log color wheel. You can use them to select and apply complementary colors for videos.
• Curves: You can adjust the video colors by dragging the curve lines luma, red, green, and blue colors.
• HSL: CapCut allows you to change the video tint, saturation, and lightness to meet your video color needs.
• Basic color adjustments: Use tools like color matching, color correction, and auto-adjust to achieve a balanced and visually pleasing look.

How to apply complementary colors in videos

Step
1. Import the video
2. After opening CapCut, import your videos by dragging and dropping or using the import button to select a file from your computer. You can also import from the CapCut space.
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Step
5. Applying complementary colors
6. Click the video on the timeline; you will find the "Adjustment" option on the right upside toolbar. Click it and see "Basic," "HSL," "Curves," and "Color wheel" options. You can choose a color wheel to color the video, dragging and adjusting the arrows pointing in the color wheel to select the desired color effect. What's more, directly entering color data is also a way to adjust the colors.
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Step
8. Export the colored video
9. Once you're happy with the adjustments, click "Export" and select the appropriate resolution and format to export your video. Finally, click the "Export" button again to finalize and save the video.
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After learning how to apply complementary color in videos, how can we maximize its effect? Here are some important tips for you！

Vital tips for using complementary colors

• Avoid over-saturation: While complementary colors naturally provide contrast, it’s important not to over-saturate, as this can make your footage look too harsh.
• Match colors to emotion: The colors that are complementary can evoke specific emotions in your videos. For example, pairing cool blues with warm oranges can create a balanced yet dynamic feel.
• Separate subjects from backgrounds: Using a color wheel with complementary colors can help distinguish the foreground and background in your video, ensuring the subject stands out.

Conclusion

Using complementary colors in video editing can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your content. By adjusting the color wheels for complementary colors, you can create dynamic and engaging visual works. In order to make the complementary color effect more perfect, avoid oversaturation and match colors to the emotion of your video. When coloring the videos, CapCut’s powerful tools, including the color wheel, curves, and HSL adjustments, make it easy to color and refine your videos. Try it now to get your best video work!

FAQs

1. Can I use CapCut to apply complementary colors to specific video elements?
2. Yes, you can use CapCut to adjust the color of specific elements of the video. It provides a color wheel, HSL (hue, saturation, brightness), color match, color correction, and other functions to adjust the color. Then, use the mask to select the specific part of the video to achieve it.
3. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using complementary colors in video editing?
4. One of the most common mistakes when using color wheels and complementary colors is oversaturation. This can lead to harsh and overwhelming effects. Moreover, inconsistent usage can disrupt the visual flow. So, it is essential to balance the colors, and they should be according to the scene's tone. For example, using bright colors in serious moments can reduce the emotional impact. Proper balance will enhance the designs.
5. How does the use of complementary colors impact the mood of a video?
6. By using contrasting colors from the complementary color wheel, you create visual tension and energy, which can evoke specific emotional responses from the viewer. For instance, pairing cool tones like blue with warmer hues like orange creates a balanced but dynamic look, often seen in blockbuster films, to convey warmth and intensity. Alternatively, red and green combinations can create an energetic atmosphere suitable for action-packed or high-energy scenes. CapCut is a good choice for impacting the mood of a video using complementary colors because it offers many color-adjusting tools.