Red is needed to create different moods and effects in the painting. Below I have included a table with different red hues and where they are best suited to your artwork.
What two colors make red? Mixing red shades, tints, hues
You might think that red is a primary color and it cannot be mixed by combining other colors. This is not essentially true. You can combine two colors to make red.
The two colors that make red are magenta and yellow. Mix magenta and yellow in a 1:1 ratio for the best results. orangish or pinkish-red can be made by altering this ratio. The mixed red color can be muted by mixing a dash of cyan. Red shades and tints are made by mixing black and white respectively.
Red is a great color to create different moods and emotions in your painting. You can create a specific red color by combining different red color paints and other paints to lighten or darken the color. You will also learn the exact steps to match a red color from a reference photo.
Two colors that make red: magenta and yellow
Two colors that make red are magenta and yellow. You can tweak the color you get by mixing different ratios of magenta and yellow. Also, the mixed red color can be muted or neutralized by mixing it with the complementary color of red.
You can make the mixed red warmer by mixing it with warm colors like orange or more yellow. Mixed red can be made cooler by mixing in with a dash/little blue that is cool.
I have written a whole article about acrylic paint color mixing charts. You can learn a lot about mixing all the primary and secondary colors there. There is a free downloadable color mixing chart and a grid as well.
If you do not understand any terminology like hue, or tint that is used when discussing colors, refer to the color terminologies box below.
Color Terminologies
There are different color terminologies you need to understand when discussing colors. I have described them below;
Hue: Hue means colors such as primary colors( red, blue, yellow) and secondary colors (orange, green, purple).
Value: The darkness or lightness of a color. Every color has a value. You can see this if you see a black and white photo of colors. Light colors like yellow are high in value while darker colors like red are low in value. The color black has the lowest value while the color white has the highest value.
Shade: Shade is the darker color you get when mixing a hue (color) with black. You can make dark to light shades by mixing in more or less black.
Tint: Tint is the color you get by mixing a hue (color) with white. By changing the amount of white you mix, you can get lighter tints.
Mass stone: Color of paint when painted thickly, straight out of the tube without diluting.
Undertone: Undertone can be seen when you scraped the paint on a white surface. Undertones can be different from mass tones because colors are not pure although there is a single pigment. Impurities of some colors give a different undertone. (e.g. Phthalo blue has a dark blue mass tone and greenish undertone)
Color bias: Every color (even primary colors) has a bias towards another color because there are hidden color pigments in the pure colors. (e. g. Phthalo blue has a green color bias while ultramarine blue has either green or red color bias)
Complementary colors: Colors on the opposite side of the color wheel. When complementary colors are mixed, a neutral or muted color will be made.
Cool colors: Cool colors are colors that remind you of the ocean and water. They include blue, green, and purple.
Warm colors: Warm colors will remind you of sun and fire. They are red, orange and yellow.
I used acrylic colors to mix red. In the below image you can see magenta and yellow at the two ends of the color swatch line. The middle colors are mixes of magenta and yellow. To the right of the color swatches, I have increased the amount of yellow color used. So colors go from red to orange.
Mixing red from magenta and yellow on the canvas
I have also experimented with mixing different ratios of magenta and yellow. These are magenta: yellow ratios as 1: 1, 2:1, and 3:1. Below I will show you the results of each of these ratios.
Magenta can be different from brand to brand. The best choice you can make is getting Quinacridone magenta in artist-grade paints. You can also get primary magenta. For this experiment, I have used student-grade primary magenta.
You may see magenta as almost red in these images. But there is a slight difference between magenta and red. But after drying on canvas it almost looks like a lighter red.
Different ratios of magenta and yellow I used to mix
Here is how it went after mixing the colors.
Magenta and yellow colors mixed in different ratios
You might have noticed the pinkish-red color in magenta and the bright red colors in the mixes. As you can see, the more you add magenta to the mix, there will be strong the red color. You can see it in the mix with a magenta: yellow ratio of 3: 1. This is only applicable if you are using student grade primary magenta and yellow.
Now let’s see how to mix red with an artist-grade acrylic paint brand like Golden. I have tested the Golden color mixer to mix magenta and yellow in different ratios. It gives a real-time look at the mixed colors (color swatch) and parts of each color mixed in the paint tubes on the left. You can check my results below.
Primary magenta (Tints are on the right side)
1 Primary magenta * 1 Primary yellow= red color (Tints on the right side)
2 Primary magenta * 1 Primary yellow= orangish-red (Tints on the right side)
3 Primary magenta * 1 Primary yellow= orangish-red (Tints on the right side)
As you can see, the best way to make red with yellow and magenta is to mix equal parts of each color. By mixing more yellow you will get an orangish-red color. Mixing more magenta yields a pinkish-red color.
Isn’t red a primary color that cannot be mixed?
Since our primary schools, we were taught that red is a primary color. Primary colors can be used to mix all the other colors. But they cannot be created by mixing two other colors. The traditional primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.
However, there is another color model that uses different colors than red, blue, and yellow. It is the CMYK color model. It uses magenta, cyan, and yellow as primaries. Generally, the colors mixed using cyan, magenta, yellow and black(CMYK) are lighter, vivid, and vibrant while red, blue, and yellow (RBY) provide a color palette that is dull and darker.
RBY and CMY color models
Red is a primary color in the RGB color model. It has red, green, and blue as primary colors. The RGB model is used in digital screens. The mobile phone or the computer screen you are viewing in this article uses RGB colors to display all these vivid different colors.
Artists have long known the three primary colors as red, blue, and yellow (RBY). Of course, these primary colors are still valid. Artists can expand their color palette and make any color they want if they use both CMY and RBY primary colors.
Generally, the colors mixed using cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) are vivid and vibrant. But red, blue and yellow (RBY) also provide a color palette that is more on the darker side. Here I have thought of doing two color wheels. One with RBY primaries and the other with CMY primaries
CMY color wheel with acrylics
Following is the color wheel I made using CMY acrylic primary colors on a canvas.
Color wheel using cyan, magenta, and yellow as primary colors
See how vibrant and beautiful these colors are? You can always make several different hues of these colors by adjusting the ratios of each color as you paint.
For this color wheel, I used student-quality acrylics. But if you choose the artist’s quality acrylics, you can get a more vibrant look of the same color.
RBY color wheel with acrylics
Following is the color wheel I made using red, blue, and yellow (RBY) as primary colors.
The color wheel was made using red, blue, and yellow as primary colors
Here you will see a color palette that is more towards the darker side. But there are of course some vivid vibrant colors.
Mixing silver color with acrylic pa.
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As an artist, you can use both of these primaries to suit your painting.
Note: It is important to note that, you only need a simple colour palette with only primaries (red, magenta, cyan, primary blue and yellow), white and, black to paint. You do not need of sets of colour tubes.
What Colors Make Red?
There are a variety of factors that can affect the color of red, such as light intensity, wavelength, and the color of the object itself. This is why sunlight usually makes red objects look brighter than they do in dimmer lighting.
Wavelength also plays a role in how red appears. Red light has a longer wavelength than blue or green light, so it tends to appear brighter and more saturated. However, if the wavelength is too long, red can start to look orange.
The color of the object itself can also affect how red it appears. For example, a white object will reflect all colors of light equally, so it will appear more muted.
Typically magenta and yellow are combined to make red, but it depends on the exact shade of red you are trying to create.
Also read about how to make purple colour here.
Different Color Shades that make Red
Red is one of the most popular colors, and it’s no wonder why – it’s bold, vibrant, and eye-catching. But did you know that there is a wide range of different color shades that can be classified as red?
- Crimson : A deep, rich shade of red with a slight purple hue. It’s often associated with power and luxury.
- Scarlet : A bright, intense red shade. It’s often used to represent passion or excitement.
- Ruby : A dark, reddish-purple color. It’s considered to be a very lucky color in many cultures.
- Burgundy : A dark red shade with a brownish hue.
- Carmine : A bright, intense red shade with a slightly orange hue. It’s often used in cosmetics and fabric dyes.
- Rose : A delicate pinkish-red color. It’s associated with romance and love.
- Coral : A light reddish-orange color. It’s named after the sea creatures that it resembles in color.
- Have a look at how to make brown colour here.
These are just a few of the different shades of red that you might encounter – there are hundreds of different shades, each with its unique name and appearance.
So, next time you see a color that you think might be red, take a closer look – it could be one of these shades or something completely different.
How to make Red Color?
Additive Mixing
Additive mixing is used when developing colors for computer displays and other electronic devices.
To make dark red, you will need to mix the primary colors in specific proportions. For example, a common way to make dark red is by mixing equal parts of red and blue.
You can also add a small amount of green to this mixture to create a darker shade of red. To make light red, you can mix red with white.
Check asian paints colour book for different red color shades here.
To make bright or saturated red, you will need to add more red to the mixture than any other color. To make dull or muted red, you will need to add more gray, black, or brown to the mixture.
You could try mixing 2 parts red and 1 part blue to create a lighter shade of purple-red. Or you could mix 2 parts red and 1 part green to create a darker shade of orange-red .
For complete guide on how to make orange colour visit here.
So, don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect shade of red for your needs.
Subtractive Mixing to make red
Subtractive mixing is used when working with physical materials such as paints, inks, and dyes. These colors are called “subtractive” because when they’re mixed, they absorb light and create the appearance of darkness.
To mix a red color using subtractive mixing, combine magenta and yellow in equal amounts. The resulting color will be a muddy brownish-red, so you may want to add a bit more magenta to get a brighter red.
Why Do Magenta and Yellow Mix to Make Red in Subtractive Color Mixing?
In the context of color mixing, magenta and yellow (along with cyan) are referred to as subtractive colors because they work by subtracting or absorbing certain wavelengths of light to create the perception of color.
The term “subtractive” comes from the fact that these colors subtract or remove specific portions of the light spectrum, resulting in the colors we see.
When light shines on a surface, it contains a combination of different wavelengths that our eyes perceive as color. However, when pigments or dyes interact with light, they selectively absorb or subtract certain wavelengths of light while reflecting others.
In the case of magenta, it absorbs green light, subtracting the green wavelengths from the incident light. Similarly, yellow ink absorbs blue light, subtracting the blue wavelengths.
Moreover, when magenta and yellow inks are combined in the CMYK color model, they subtract different portions of the light spectrum.
So, magenta absorbs green light, while yellow absorbs blue light, allowing only red to be reflected.
How to Mix Different Shades of Red
If you’re looking for the answer to the question of what two colors make red, well, the most straightforward answer is magenta and yellow.
Suppose you want to know what colors make red paint. In that case, the short answer is different shades of red such as alizarin crimson or cadmium red mixed with yellows (cadmium yellow and lemon yellow) and oranges (cadmium orange or yellow ochre).
Are you wondering how to make red paint? Here’s a red mixing guide for getting light, dark, warm or cool shades.
Since red falls in a wavelength range between 620 and 750 nanometers on the light spectrum, there are many shades of red.
To make your red base, you can use a mixture of yellow and magenta or a combination of red with different secondary colors.
If you use primary red and secondary colors in traditional art, you can make different shades of red, from warm to cool and dark to light.
Dark red can be created by mixing cadmium red or alizarin crimson with phthalo green. Alternatively, you can combine alizarin crimson with ultramarine blue, then add burnt umber.
What about the colors that make light red? Mix cadmium red and cadmium yellow or alizarin crimson with lemon yellow to make light red.
If you want to make a muted red, mix cadmium red with hookers or phthalo green. If you want a darker tone, use alizarin crimson instead of cadmium red.
When it comes to warm red, it can be made by mixing alizarin crimson and cadmium yellow. If you want a warm orange-red, mix cadmium red and cadmium orange.
If you want to make a cool red, you can mix cadmium red or alizarin crimson with ultramarine blue.
Here is a short color mixing guide to mixing different shades of red:
Mahogany = two parts red + one part blue
Crimson = Red + a splash of blue
Cherry Red = a mixture of red and white as a base + a splash of black
Ruby Red = Red + a hint of black
Raspberry Red = Red + a touch of magenta
Candy Apple = Red + a hint of orange
Strawberry Red = Red + white + a hint of orange
If you want to make a muted red, you can mix cadmium red with cadmium green; alizarin crimson with cadmium green; or alizarin crimson with pthalo green; Don’t forget to add some white to your red base.
So, there are many ways to make red, from using a primary color with other secondary colors from the RYB model to mixing two primary colors from the CMYK model.
Furthermore, adding black and white can create different tints and shades. However, the best method is trial and error to get to the desired shade.
Color Bias Plays a Vital Role in Mixing Red
Every color carries a bias, meaning that it leans towards another color. So the color temperature used in mixing red is critical.
For example, a red that leans towards yellow is not pure but a warm yellowish red. The same applies if it leans more toward blue, resulting in a cool bluish-red.
The same applies to yellow. It can be a warm reddish-yellow – leaning towards red or a cool greenish yellow – leaning more towards green.
Thus, the temperature of the mixed red depends mainly on the color bias. If you want to make a cool red closer to purple than orange, add a splash of blue. On the other hand, if you want a warm red, mix a warm yellowish red with a warm reddish yellow.
Furthermore, the temperature of the mix can affect the color’s emotion.
