Color Theory for Video

https://www.videomaker.com/article/f06/17674-color-theory-for-video

What are complementary colors?  What are tertiary colors?  What is the difference between primary and tertiary colors? How can colors be assigned meaning in a film?

    Complementary colors are sets of colors that, when combined, can be used to make a gray. When mixing these colors, they are brought closer to grey, making the majority color appear more desaturated when mixed. These pairs of color are visually appealling and contrast one another, some important pairs include red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. Tertiary colors are the in-betweens of adjacent primary and secondary colors such as red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green, green-blue, and blue-purple. The difference between primary and tertiary colors are that primary colors are used to create other colors and tertiary colors are the in-betweens, the product of primary and secondary colors combined. Colors can be assigned meaning in a film by representing a theme, following or subverting its connotations, and subtly adding to the story. You establish an association to a specific theme or idea by connecting that concept with the color(s). Every color and combination has a set of connotations that can amplify different feelings and reveal ideas. For instance, the color white is often associated with cleanliness and/or purity, which can be used to amplify those traits in something or create a contrast by making it oppose the true nature of the thing. Additionally, you can potentially use the relationships of colors or the established symbolism to tell the story, such as using complimentary colors to show a pair, or have characters wear more colors that tie them together.