Color temperature ranges from cool blue to warm yellow and orange, with what resting in the middle?

Color temperature is a measurement that describes the warmth or coolness of a light source, typically expressed in Kelvins (K). The range of color temperature spans from cool tones, which are often depicted as blue (like midday sunlight or overcast skies), to warm tones, represented by yellow and orange (like the glow of a sunset or incandescent bulbs).

In the context of this range, neutral tones occupy the middle ground. A neutral color temperature does not lean towards either cool or warm, providing balance and acting as a reference point for understanding the full spectrum of color temperatures. It is often associated with midday sunlight, which is perceived under a neutral light that doesn't cast a particular color bias on subjects being photographed.

Bright, pastel, and vibrant are not terms used to describe color temperature directly. Brightness refers to the intensity of light, pastel denotes softer, lighter colors that have been diluted, while vibrant pertains to colors that are highly saturated. Thus, the correct choice that reflects the middle ground of the color temperature scale is neutral.