High contrast or complementary colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel may be described as clashing colors. Colors that clash are not necessarily a bad combination, they are very high contrast, high visibility pairings.
In design we tend to use the terms complementary or clashing more loosely than in the strict scientific color theory sense. Colors within a small range on the opposite side of the color wheel can be considered opposites, not just a specific color pair. Call it artistic license.Although it sounds bad, sometimes clashing colors can work together in a design depending on the amount of color and how close they appear together on the page or screen. Too close together and clashing colors may appear to vibrate and overwhelm the viewer.
Using Clashing Colors
Common color combinations that use two, three, or four contrasting colors are described as complementary, double complementary, triad, and split-complementary color schemes. The two-color complementary combination usually uses two high contrast or clashing colors.
Each additive primary color (RGB) pairs up nicely with a complementary subtractive (CMY) primary color to create pairs of contrasting or clashing colors. Vary the shades for additional complementary colors with less contrast.
- Red (additive) and aqua/cyan (subtractive)
- Green (additive) and fuchsia/magenta (subtractive)
- Blue (additive) and yellow (subtractive)
