On a color wheel, which colors are considered complementary?

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when combined, cancel each other out by producing a grayscale color (e.g., white or black) or when placed next to each other, create the strongest contrast. On a standard color wheel, complementary colors are located directly opposite each other.

When looking at the options provided, blue and orange are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, making them complementary. This relationship is rooted in color theory and applies to both traditional color mixing (like painting) and additive color mixing (like light).

The pairing of blue and orange enhances visual appeal and creates a dynamic effect in design because of the striking contrast between them. This contrast can be very effective in catching the viewer's attention and creating depth within visual compositions.

The other color combinations provided do not match the definition of complementary colors according to the traditional color wheel. For example, while red and green are complementary in the RGB color model, they aren't the complementary pair in terms of the traditional color wheel used in pigment mixing where blue and orange holds that position.