Complementary Color Generator
Find the complementary color for any base color — the hue directly opposite it on the color wheel, generated in a perceptually even color space.
Overview
Complementary Color Generator takes one base color and returns its complement — the hue directly opposite it on the color wheel — generated in OKLCH rather than plain HSL so the result stays visually balanced with the original. It's a focused, single-purpose view of the same engine behind Palette Generator.
Key Features
- Enter a base color and get its complementary match instantly
- Generated in OKLCH for an accurate, evenly-balanced result
- One-click copy for both colors
- Deeplinkable via a ?base= URL parameter
- Link into the Color Editor for more palette types
Common Use Cases
- Picking an accent color — Find a strong contrasting accent for a primary brand color.
- Exploring a two-color scheme — Quickly see how a base color and its complement look side by side.
How It Works
1
Enter a base color
Type or pick the color you want a complement for.
2
See the complementary match
The color directly opposite yours on the hue wheel appears instantly.
3
Copy or explore further
Copy either color, or open the base color in the Color Editor to try analogous, triadic, or other harmony types.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a complementary color?
It's the color positioned directly opposite your base color on the hue wheel — 180° away. Complementary pairs tend to create strong visual contrast when placed next to each other.
Why might this differ from a plain HSL 180° rotation?
The rotation happens in OKLCH rather than HSL, which keeps perceived lightness and saturation more consistent across the hue change — a plain HSL rotation can produce a complement that looks noticeably brighter or duller than the original.
Can I generate other palette types from the same base?
Yes — see Palette Generator for analogous, triadic, tetradic, split-complementary, and monochromatic options from the same base color.
