What is split-complementary color?

Answer 1

Begin with what will represent the dominant color (as found on the traditional RYB color wheel). Let us say that primary blue, is the dominant color to be used. Follow blue across the color wheel, directly opposite, and find the secondary color orange. The two colors adjacent (next to) orange are the split-complementaries, namely yellow-orange and red-orange.

To use a limited palette driven by split-complementary colors, assign the non-primary colors to be primaries for the sake of color mixing. In other words, using the colors above...blue would be the dominant primary, yellow-orange would play the part of yellow for the sake of mixing, and red-orange would be the choice for red. To mix say the color green take blue...plus the yellow-orange. It will not be the common green one ordinarily thinks of as comes from blue plus yellow, but it will be a green unique and true to the split-complementary palette chosen. The painter will find a natural working color harmony imbued by this palette strategy.

Answer 2

Split-complementary color is a color scheme that is based on a base color and two colors adjacent to its complementary color on the color wheel. This creates a harmonious palette with a bold contrast. For example, if the base color is red, the split-complementary scheme would involve green and blue-green.