So what two colors make purple through additive mixing? In additive mixing, you can make purple by combining the wavelengths of blue light and red light in different proportions. Depending on the combination, you can get a pale purple like lavender. or a bold, dark purple like merlot!
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Posted by Ashley Robinson | Mar 28, 2021 5:00:00 PM
Let’s say you want to learn how to make purple food coloring or how to make purple paint. You’ll need to understand how to mix colors! But where do you begin? What two colors make purple?
To learn how to make purple, you need to have an understanding of the science behind color mixing. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to use colors to make purple. We’ll cover the following:
- A quick guide to how to make purple
- A scientific explanation for the question, “What is purple?”
- A thorough explanation of how to make more complex shades of purple
- Examples of different shades of purple and what colors you combine to create them
Now, let’s talk about how to make purple!
How To Make Purple: A Quick Primer
Mixing blue and red together makes purple. The amount of blue and red that you add to your mixture will determine the exact shade of purple you produce. More red will create a redder purple, and more blue will create a bluer purple.
Blue and red are essential to creating purple, but you can mix in other colors to create different shades of purple. Adding white, yellow, or gray to your mixture of blue and red will give you a lighter purple. Incorporating black into your blue and red mixture will give you a darker shade of purple.
In general, purple refers to any color with a hue that is between red and blue. But getting the perfect shade of purple is a little more complicated than simply mixing these two colors. This is where the science of color comes in! Understanding the science behind making purple will help you make purple all on your own.
We’ll cover the basics of the science behind making purple next!
What Is Purple? The Science Behind the Color
What two colors make purple? Mixing red and blue together makes purple, but getting the right shade of purple isn’t quite that simple.
To answer the question, “What colors make purple,” you need a basic understanding of color. Color comes from light, so we need to start by looking at how light works.
Understanding light can be complicated–I mean, that’s why we have physics. But luckily, the color-making geniuses at Crayola explain how light creates visible color like this:
When light shines on an object some colors bounce off the object and others are absorbed by it. Our eyes only see the colors that are bounced off or reflected.
The sun’s rays contain all the colors of the rainbow mixed together. This mixture is known as white light. When white light strikes a white crayon or marker barrel, it appears white to us because it absorbs no color and reflects all color equally. A black crayon or marker cap absorbs all colors equally and reflects none, so it looks black to us. While artists consider black a color, scientists do not because black is the absence of all color.
In simpler terms, objects have certain physical properties that cause them to absorb certain types of light, or electromagnetic waves. The light waves that aren’t absorbed are reflected, which creates the color you see with your eyes!
And what about black and white? An object will appear white when it reflects all colors. This is because white contains all wavelengths of light and is made of all colors of the rainbow. The light from the sun is an example of white light! Then there’s black. Black objects absorb all color because they reflect no light back.
Most of the time, an object will reflect some color. So when an object appears as green or red to you, it’s because of the wavelength of light that’s bouncing off of the object.
At this point, you’ve probably guessed that light comes in lots of different wavelengths. A wavelength is the distance between two crests of a wave of light. You can visualize how a wavelength of light behaves by thinking about how water hits the shore at the beach. Waves sometimes hit the shore low and far apart. At other times, waves come in higher and closer together. Now, if you wanted to measure the length of the waves at the beach, you’d start at the highest point, or crest, of one wave, then measure to the crest of the next wave. The distance from crest to crest is what we call the wavelength of the ocean on the beach.
Waves of light are a lot like waves of water–except light waves are a lot smaller and closer together. When light bounces off an object, our eyes measure the wavelengths and translate them into different colors.
The entire scope of possible wavelengths of light is called the “spectrum.” If you look below, you can see how the spectrum of light converts to the spectrum of color:
The length of a wave of light is measured in nanometers (nm). Longer wavelengths translate to colors that appear “warmer,” and shorter wavelengths create colors that look “cooler.”
If you look at the image above again, you’ll also notice that only a very small portion of the spectrum of light is visible to our eyes. We’re only able to see the wavelengths between about 400 and 800 nanometers. That may seem like a lot, but the spectrum of light extends far beyond that range in either direction. There is a lot of light on the available spectrum that we can’t see!
The segment of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see without help from technology is called the “ visible light spectrum .”
Red, a primary component of purple, is approximately 700 nanometers in wavelength. Red is one of the longer wavelengths that our eyes can see. The distance from crest to crest is only a little bit thicker than the membrane of a soap bubble .
But purple is also made of blue. Blue has wavelengths around 475 nanometers, making it one of the shortest wavelengths visible to our eyes.
So what colors make purple? Purple is a combination of red light and blue light. An object that we perceive as purple has a makeup that causes it to absorb all wavelengths of light except those that fall around 700 nanometers and 475 nanometers in length. The object reflects those exact wavelengths mixed together, which gives the impression that the object is purple.
Why Red and Blue Don’t Always Make Purple
Purple is a secondary color. When you mix two primary colors together, you get a secondary color. We all learned at a young age that blue and red make purple. Primary Blue and Primary Red mixed in equal amounts will make purple.
But what about all of those other blues and reds in your paint box that don’t quite give you the purple you imagined when mixed together?
The answer is color bias . Color bias means that some colors also have hints of other colors in them.
So, for example, some blues have hints of red and some blues have hints of yellow.
Some reds have hints of blue and some reds have hints of yellow.
Primary color theory tells us that if we mix the three primary colors together, red, blue and yellow, we get brown.
If you mix a blue with a red that has hints of yellow you are actually mixing all three primary colors, so you get a muddy, brownish purple.
Blue + Red + Yellow = Brown
Here is a list of the more common blues and reds and their color bias.
So, your tubes of blues and reds must have no yellow (or green since blue + yellow = green) in order to make a true purple. For more information on color theory, check out my post on the basics of color theory for beginners.
How to Check for Color Bias
You can check the color bias of your paint by mixing them with a little white.
Red paint mixed with white should turn pink. If you get a peachy color, then there is a yellow bias.
Blue paint mixed with white should turn light sky blue. If you get a greenish blue or a turquoise blue, then there is a yellow bias.
Now that you understand color bias, let’s make purple!
How to Make Bright Purple Paint
To get a bright, vibrant purple the best colors to mix are a warm blue color and a cool red color.
Ultramarine Blue (warm) and Quinacridone Magenta (cool) is my favorite mix for a bright purple. You can also use Alizarin Crimson (cool) and Ultramarine Blue or Permanent Rose (cool) and Ultramarine Blue, but the Quinacridone Magenta will give you the brightest purple. (see chart below)
Mix these colors in equal parts to get the brightest purple. ( Note: colors on the computer screen are not always accurate)
What Two Colors Make Purple?
On the surface, mixing purple seems as easy as combining red and blue pigments. As with everything in life, however, it is not that simple. There are several questions we need to ponder before we even pick up the tubes of paint. What kind of purple do you want? Do you want a bright violet shade or a muted aubergine? Do you need to create highlight and shadow shades of your chosen purple? In time we will answer all of these questions, but let us start at the very beginning.
Pure, primary blue mixed with pure, primary red will result in a shade of pure purple. Purple, like orange and green, is a secondary color. If you are a painting novice, using a color mixing chart can be very helpful. Mixing the two colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel will create the color that sits between them. In this case, combining red and blue, which are opposites, will create a purple color, which sits between them.
If creating the perfect shade of purple was as simple as that, we would stop the article here and call the whole thing off. Unfortunately, color theory can get a little more complicated. If you want to start mixing varying shades of purple, we need to start considering the color temperature. On the surface, color temperature is also relatively simple. Colors like blues and greens are cool, while your oranges and reds are warm. Within these categories, however, some reds are cooler than others, and some blues are warmer than others.
Cooler reds tend to lean more towards purple shades because they contain a small amount of blue pigment. In contrast, warm reds naturally drift towards orange because they include a little yellow. The tendency of particular colors to veer towards others is known as color bias, and you need to understand color bias to create exact shades. The relative temperature of your two base colors – red and blue – will directly affect the qualities of your purple color.
Navigating the Color Bias to Mix Purple Colors
Mixing the perfect purple color is not as simple as combining the closest blue and red. If you have a collection of paints in your studio, try gathering all of your red and blue colors together. You will see that there is great shade variation in both colors. So yes, blue and red will make purple, but the purple shade depends heavily on the types of blue and red you use.
Purple is a secondary color, and to create vivid secondary colors, you must use only two primary shades. If you use a warm red that contains a little yellow, and a cool blue that also has some yellow, you are mixing together all three primary colors. A combination of all three of these will result in a muddy shade of purple that is closer to brown.
So the bottom line is, to create a vibrant purple color, you need to use a warm blue and a cool red.
Ranking Blue Shades from Warm to Cool
Generally, you can tell the relative temperature of blue shades just by looking at them. Warmer blue shades, like ultramarine blue, appear to be closer to purple already, while cooler blues, like manganese blue, have a green tint. While we have spoken a lot about color temperature, it is very much a relative term. Here is a list of blue shades, ranked from warm to cool:
Ultramarine blue, indanthrone blue, and cobalt blue are your go-to blue shades for creating the most vibrant purple colors. It is not enough to have the right blue, we also need to consider the red.
Ranking Red Shades from Warm to Cool
You can alter the shade of your purple by changing the blue you use and the red you use. While you want warmer shades of blue for a vibrant purple, you want cooler shades of red. Here is a list of possible red colors ranked from warm to cool:
To create pure purple shades, spectrum crimson, alizarin crimson, permanent carmine, and quinacridone rose are your go-to cool reds. Any of these shades combined with a warm blue will create the most beautiful, vibrant pure purple.
Adjusting the Temperature of Your Purple Shades
While we are on color temperature, we should discuss creating warmer and cooler shades of purple. Whether you are painting a field of purple tulips or decadent silken robes, a range of purple hues will lend more realism to your composition. Adjusting the temperature of your purple shades is one way you can begin building a purple pallet.
Throughout the rest of this article, we will be using pure purple as a base color. This pure purple is a combination of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.
Making Cooler Purple Colors
The simplest way to cool down your purple color is to add more blue. The most important thing to consider if you choose this method is which blue to use. It is always best to use the same blue you used to make the original purple color. It needs to be a warm blue, or you will make your purple shade muddy.
It is also good practice to only add a small amount of blue to your purple at a time. A small amount of paint can drastically change the color, and if you add too much blue too quickly, you may have to add more red as well to bring it back to your perfect shade.
Making Warmer Purple Colors
It may seem obvious now, but to make a warmer purple, the best way is to add a little more red. You should definitely use the same red you used to make your base purple, and this red should be cooler, or else your purple will become muddy. Once again, if you are adding red to your purple shade, start by adding a small amount and keep adding gradually until you are happy with the hue.
Muting Bright Pure Purple Colors with Complementary Hues
Sometimes a vibrant pure purple is not what we want. If you want to paint realistic scenes, vibrant purple alone will be garish. Muted shades are important elements of any painting because they help the brighter colors stand out. Knowing how to mute bright purple shades is just as important as knowing how to mix them in the first place.
The best way to mute any color is to add a small amount of that color’s complement. A color’s complement is the color that sits directly opposite it on the color wheel. The color that complements purple is yellow. Adding a small amount of yellow to your purple will mute the color, making it less vibrant.
As in every other aspect of color mixing, the temperature of the complementary color is important. A warmer yellow that is closer to orange will mute your purple but keep it fairly warm. If you want a more earthy muted purple color, try mixing it with a little bit of yellow ochre.
In contrast, using a cooler yellow, like cadmium lemon yellow, will mute and cool your purple shade. While on the most basic level, purple and yellow are color complements, each unique shade of purple will have its own unique complement yellow shade. Getting to grips with the color wheel and these basic aspects of color theory will set you in good stead to mix and mute any color you need.
Creating Purple Tints and Shades
If you are looking to mix a dark purple color or a light purple, it is time to consider tints and shades. Dark purple colors and lighter shades of purple are essential for creating depth and dimension in your paintings. As you now know, adjusting colors is a little complicated, and the same goes for creating tints and shades.
How to Make Light Purple Tints
Having highlight shades or tints of your purple hue is essential for capturing the effects of light or depth. Purple colors are typically quite dark colors naturally, so it is likely that you will want to lighten them often. There are a few different methods you can try out for creating light purple colors.
Adding small amounts of white to your purple hue is the most common and easiest way to make light purple. One of the most significant benefits of using white to create light purple tints is that you will not alter the purple hue. Lightening pure purple with white will result in a lighter tint of pure purple.
Another great option for creating light purple tints is to add a little bit of light yellow. Adding a color of a light value to your purple will lighten it. We know that you can use yellow to mute a vibrant purple hue. If you want to make a muted purple tint, then a light yellow is the perfect option.
The best yellows we can suggest are cadmium lemon yellow and cadmium yellow. Cadmium lemon yellow will make your purple hue much lighter than cadmium yellow. The method you choose to use to create purple tints is personal preference, and it may take some experimentation to get the perfect shade.
How to Make Dark Purple Shades
Purple colors are already quite dark, so it is not difficult to make them a little darker. You really need those dark purple shades to add shadows and dimension to your paintings. Depending on the complexity and the light values within the composition, you may need several dark purple shades. It is always a good idea to create a pallet of light and dark variations on your primary purple hue. There are also a few different ways you can make dark purple hues.
As you can use white to lighten purple, you can also use black to darken your mixture. Many artists, us included, will warn you that using black is not the best way to make your purple hues darker. The reason why this is not the best method is that black paint is rarely a pure black pigment.
Most tubes of black paint contain many different color pigments, and they often have a green pigment base. You can test this out yourself. Try mixing your black paint with some white. You will likely find that rather than forming a pure grey, this combination will have a greenish tinge. Using black to make dark purple may result in unwanted tinges of color.
A better option for making dark purple is to use a small amount of burnt umber. Burnt umber is a dark reddish-brown shade, and when you mix it with pure purple, it creates a deep muted shade. In terms of temperature, burnt umber is warmer than purple, and as a result, it will warm up your purple hues.
Phthalo green is another option for creating a rich dark purple. You can create a dark black color by combining phthalo green and alizarin crimson. Mixing some of this combination with your purple shade will result in an incredibly dark purple. Out of all the purple colors that you can mix yourself, this combination is probably the darkest.
Scientific Hex Table for Different Shades of Purple
| Type of Purple | Hex Number | % Red, Green, Blue | % Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black | Purple Shade |
| Pure Purple | #660066 | 50% R, 50% B | 68% C, 100% M, 26% Y, 18% K | |
| Lavender | #e6e6ff | 50% R, 50% Blue | 8% C, 8% M, 0% Y, 0% K | |
| Aubergine | #3d0734 | 51% R, 43% B, 6% Black | 76% C, 95% M, 45% Y, 58% K | |
| Mauve | #b784a7 | 38% R, 35% B, 27% G | 29% C, 54% M, 14% Y, 0% K | |
| Plum | #8e4585 | 41% R, 39% B, 20% G | 50% C, 86% M, 17% Y, 2% K | |
| Violet | #7f00ff | 33% R, 67% B | 69% C, 79% M, 0% Y, 0% K | |
| Amethyst | #9966ce | 34% R, 44% B, 22% G | 49% C, 67% M, 0% Y, 0% K |
The purple palette is a wonderful set of colors to use in your paintings. Not only can you craft beautiful purple compositions, but you can also mix purple into a range of different colors. Purple is a wonderful complementing color and it can make the other colors in a painting pop. When it comes to mixing your own purple shades and choosing your color combinations, the only limit is your imagination and your willingness to experiment.
We’ve created a web story of our Top 5 Purple colors and how to mix them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Mix a Vibrant Purple?
A vibrant, pure purple is probably one of the easier purple shades to mix on your own. All you need are equal amounts of pure red and pure blue paint. You can lighten or darken this shade by adding white or darker pigments like burnt umber. Knowing the basics of color theory and color bias will help you to mix any shade of purple you need.
What Color is the Complement of Purple?
A color’s complement sits opposite it on the color wheel. In the case of purple, yellow is its complement. If you use yellow and purple together in a painting, they will make each other appear brighter and bolder.
What Kind of Blue Do You Need to Make Purple?
According to color theory, you need to use a blue that has a color bias towards purple already. Warm blues like ultramarine or indanthrone blue are perfect for creating a crisp and bright purple shade.
Charlene Lewis ( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )
In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.
Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.
Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.
Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.
