What are split complementary colors made up of?

Split complementary colors consist of one base color plus two colors that are adjacent to its complementary color on the color wheel. This means that if you start with a color, the split complementary setup takes the color directly opposite (the complement) and uses the two colors right next to that complement.

For instance, if you take blue as the base color, its complementary color is orange. The split complement would then be the two colors adjacent to orange, which are red-orange and yellow-orange. This combination allows for high contrast and vibrant visual interest without the overwhelming tension of using the complementary color directly.

The other options describe different color relationships: one implies a direct complement, another suggests a series of closely related colors, and the last refers to a single hue with varying shades and tones. However, these do not align with the specific definition and structure of split complementary colors.