Selecting Colours For Gradients

[slaughteredlamb]

I used to know this but it's been ages since I did it that I've forgotten.

I want to create a gradient that goes from one colour to another which is simple enough. However I seem to remember that there is a 'guide' that says that something like colours that work best together in gradients are opposite each other on a colour wheel, i.e. if you have a colour at 3 O'clock then the colour that will best compliment it will be at 9 O'clock. Is that right?

The question I have though is how can you work out what colours to pick when you don't have a colour wheel but the 'linear' style colour selectors that you have in Photoshop and Lightroom if you know what I mean?

[Jeep Stone]

Take a look at kuler.adobe.com - really good online colour tool for picking the best colour combos.

[samhs]

also search colour theory on wikipedia. IIRC they have a good section on complimentary colours, analogous and adjacent colours etc from a theory point of view. Generally though, it's easier to go from one colour to an adjacent (i.e. not on the opposite side of the wheel but next door) rather than what you suggest. Your colour will go muddy in the middle if you try to go from one extreme of the wheel to the other.

hth