What is the opposite color light of cyan?

• A. Magenta
• B. Yellow
• C. Blue
• D. Red

Answer: (D)

In additive color theory, colors of light have complements: pairs that combine to white light. Cyan is made from green and blue light, so the color that completes the spectrum by providing red is its opposite. When red light is added to cyan, you approach white light, so red is the opposite color light of cyan.

Magenta is green plus red, which complements green, not cyan. Yellow is red plus green, which complements blue, not cyan. Blue is already part of cyan, so it isn’t opposite cyan.