What is the result of mixing complementary colors?

Mixing complementary colors results in the creation of a neutral color. Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. When combined, these colors effectively cancel each other out, leading to a desaturated or neutral hue, often resulting in shades of gray or brown, depending on the specific colors mixed and their respective ratios.

This concept is essential in various fields including art, design, and esthetics, as understanding color interactions is crucial for achieving desired visual effects. The idea behind complementary colors is rooted in color theory, where the blending of two extremes leads to a balanced, neutral outcome, contrasting with enhancing color brightness or forming tertiary colors which involve the blending of colors within a less direct relationship on the color wheel.