Secondary and intermediate colors are created by mixing primary colors together. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. When any two primary colors are mixed together, a secondary color is created. When a primary color is mixed with a secondary color, an intermediate color is created. Understanding how to mix colors to create new shades is an important skill for artists, designers, and anyone who wants to expand their color palette.
What are primary colors?
The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These colors cannot be created by mixing other colors together. Instead, all other colors are derived from some combination of the primary colors. This is known as the RYB (red, yellow, blue) color model.
Red, yellow and blue are considered primary colors because they cannot be created by mixing any other colors but when combined in different ratios, they create all other colors. This makes them the basic building blocks of the color spectrum.
What are secondary colors?
Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors together in equal amounts. The secondary colors are orange, green, and purple.
Here is how the secondary colors are created:
– Red + Yellow = Orange
– Yellow + Blue = Green
– Blue + Red = Purple
For example, when you mix red and yellow paint together, you get orange paint. When you mix yellow and blue, you get green. And blue combined with red makes purple.
The secondary colors sit between the primary colors on the color wheel. They are made up of two primary color parts.
How to mix secondary colors
To create a vivid secondary color, it’s important to use primary colors that are rich and saturated. Here are some tips:
– Use a warm bright red and a lemon yellow to make orange. Muddy red or orange-y yellow will make a dull orange.
– Mix a bright blue and leafy green yellow for a pure green. An aqua blue and lime yellow are best.
– For purple, use a cool blue and a cherry or magenta red. An indigo blue and crimson red will create a nice violet.
The key is balancing the amounts of each primary color you use. Mix them together evenly for the clearest secondary color.
You can mix secondary colors using paint, coloring markers, colored pencils, and more. The same principles apply whether mixing colors physically or digitally with design software.
What are intermediate colors?
Intermediate colors, sometimes called tertiary colors, are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. For example:
– Red + Orange = Red-Orange
– Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green
– Blue + Purple = Blue-Purple
Tertiary colors have a less defined look than primary and secondary colors. They sit between the primary and secondary colors on the color wheel.
There are six tertiary colors:
– Red-orange
– Yellow-orange
– Yellow-green
– Blue-green
– Blue-purple
– Red-purple
How to mix intermediate colors
Here are some tips for mixing vibrant intermediate colors:
– Use a pure primary color like cadmium red light mixed with a bright secondary like cadmium orange.
– Combine a primary like lemon yellow with a rich secondary like viridian green.
– Mix a primary like ultramarine blue with a bright secondary like violet.
– Add more of the primary color to make a red-orange or blue-green.
– Use more secondary color for a yellow-green or blue-purple.
– Play with the proportions to create different shades in between.
Mixing intermediate colors expands your palette. With practice you can mix subtle variations of any color.
Using complementary colors
Complementary colors are pairs of colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Some examples of complements are:
– Red and green
– Yellow and purple
– Blue and orange
These color opposites create high contrast when placed side-by-side, intensifying the visual impact. The contrast makes the colors seem brighter and more dynamic.
To make a complementary color scheme:
– Use a pure color like cadmium red light
– Mix the color opposite it: blend viridian green and lemon yellow for a green with vivid contrast
Complements are tricky to mix in physical mediums like paint. Digital tools make it easier to pick the precise complement from a color wheel.
Color mixing chart
Here is a chart summarizing how to mix primary, secondary, and intermediate colors:
| Color 1 | Color 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Yellow | Orange (secondary) |
| Yellow | Blue | Green (secondary) |
| Blue | Red | Purple (secondary) |
| Red | Orange | Red-orange (intermediate) |
| Yellow | Green | Yellow-green (intermediate) |
| Blue | Purple | Blue-purple (intermediate) |
Tinting and shading colors
In addition to mixing colors, you can lighten or darken a color to create more variety. Here’s how:
Tinting: Add white to a color to make it lighter. This creates soft pastel hues.
Shading: Mix in black or another darker color to make the shade deeper and more muted.
Try tinting and shading both primary and secondary colors. Subtle variations in lightness and saturation can make your palette more nuanced.
Using a color wheel
A color wheel is a useful tool for understanding color relationships. The wheel arranges colors in order of the visible spectrum. Primary, secondary and tertiary colors have set positions.
Here are some tips for using a color wheel:
– Choose any color then find its complement directly across the wheel.
– Pick harmonious triads by selecting colors equally spaced around the wheel.
– For analogous colors, select hues next to each other on the wheel.
– Look for intermediate colors between two points on the wheel.
Having a color wheel on hand makes it easier to visualize mixing possibilities. Printed or digital wheels both work.
Conclusion
Mastering color mixing opens up new creative possibilities. Combine primary paint colors to make vivid secondary hues. Add primaries and secondaries together to form subtle intermediates. Tint and shade colors for more variety. Finally, use a color wheel to pick harmonious color schemes. With practice, you can learn to mix any color you imagine. The reward is a limitless palette to use in your artwork and designs.
