A color wheel based on RGB (red, green, blue) or RGV (red, green, violet) additive primaries has cyan, magenta, and yellow secondaries (cyan was previously known as cyan blue). Alternatively, the same arrangement of colors around a circle can be described as based on cyan, magenta, and yellow subtractive primaries, with red, green, and blue (or violet) being secondaries.

Most color wheels are based on three primary colors, three secondary colors, and the six intermediates formed by mixing a primary with a secondary, known as tertiary colors, for a total of 12 main divisions; some add more intermediates, for 24 named colors. Other color wheels, however, are based on the four opponent colors, and may have four or eight main colors.

 
 
Monochromatic
Choosing different shades or values of a single colour creates a monochromatic scheme. Harmony is simple - all colours being from the same family.



 






* Alternative Monochromatic
Colour Families
 
Complementary
The Complementary colour scheme is a contrasts colour scheme. It draws colours from the Colourwheel. This adding of the opposing warm and cool hues creates a colour dynamic.



 






* Alternative Complementary
Colour Families
 
Split Complementary
Split complementary schemes are subtler than Triadic schemes, but more complex than Complementary. Related colours opposite on the wheel contrast the dominant colour.




 






* Alternative Split Complementary
Colour Families
 
Related Analogous
Closely related colours beside each other on the colour wheel display a natural harmony between colour families.



 






* Alternative Related Analogous
Colour Families
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