An arrangement of chromatic colors on the circumference of a circle in the order in which they appear in the spectrum but with the addition of nonspectral reds and purples. The colors are so arranged that those opposite each other are complementaries in additive mixture. See also color solid.

A color circle is a way of representing the visible spectrum in a circular form, with colors arranged in sequence around the circumference in order of spectral frequency. Analogous to the use of a color wheel in art, the color circle performs a different purpose, as it is a psychophysical tool used in the exploration of visual perception, its anomalies and optical illusions connected with color vision.