Red is a powerful and emotionally intense color. It’s associated with love, passion, anger, and excitement. When working with the color red in design, you need to be careful about which shade you choose as different hues can evoke different reactions. Making a custom shade of red allows you to fine-tune the exact tone and feeling you want to achieve. There are a few key factors to keep in mind when creating your own shade of red.
Understand Color Theory
First, it helps to have a basic grasp of color theory. Red, yellow and blue are considered the three primary colors. Mixing two primary colors together creates a secondary color. For example, red and yellow make orange. Adding more of one primary color to a secondary color shifts the hue towards that primary color. So adding more red to orange makes it more red-orange. White added to a color makes it lighter or tinted. Black added to a color makes it darker or shaded. Understanding these basics allows you to systematically modify a red to achieve the exact shade you’re looking for.
Start with a Base Red
When formulating your own red, you need to start with a base red hue. There are a wide variety of reds to choose from. A warm red with a yellow/orange undertone like cadmium red is very different from a cool red with a blue undertone like alizarin crimson. Study red pigments to select a base hue that’s close to your target shade. Keep in mind the undertone as that will impact how the color mixes.
Adjust the Undertone
Once you have your base red, you can tweak the undertone by adding small amounts of complementary colors. If your base red is too orange, add a touch of blue to neutralize it towards a neutral red. If it’s too pink, meaning it has too much of a blue undertone, add a little yellow to offset the blue. You only need to add drops at a time to slightly shift the undertone one way or the other. Too much blue will make a purple, too much yellow an orange. So go slowly and test your mixes.
Lighten or Darken the Shade
The value of your red refers to how light or dark it is. You can lighten a red by adding white, or darken it by adding black or complementary colors. Adding white will take your red towards pink. Adding black will create a deeper, richer burgundy or maroon. Using complements like green or purple allows you to lower the value while maintaining brightness. Again, only add a little at a time so you don’t lose the red undertone. Testing your mixes on a white surface shows you the true color.
Consider Temperature
Temperature refers to how warm or cool a color appears. Warm reds have a yellow/orange bias and feel heated, energetic and intense. Cool reds have a blue bias and feel more soothing, reserved and sophisticated. Assess whether your red needs to be warmer or cooler and adjust accordingly by adding hints of yellow or blue. Staying aware of temperature ensures the shade evokes the right feeling.
Mix and Test Your Red
With your base red in a mixing tray or palette, carefully add small amounts of other colors while frequently testing the mix. Keep notes on exact ratios for reproducibility. Mixing is an iterative process of tweaking the hue, value and temperature until you hit your target shade. Let the mixed color fully dry to see the true final color. Compare it to reference images for the desired red. Make further adjustments in subsequent mixes based on learnings.
Match Your Medium
The final red will look different depending on the paint, ink, fabric dye, pigment or digital medium you use. Characteristics like transparency and texture impact the final appearance. You may need to do your color mixing experiments in the actual medium you’ll use the red in to get an accurate match. Be sure to test for colorfastness and permanence as well if those are considerations for your project.
Store Mixed Colors Properly
It takes work to mix up the perfect custom red, so make sure to store mixed colors so they stay usable. Store paint and ink mixes in airtight containers so they don’t dry out. Label mixtures with their formulas so you can reproduce them later. Keep fabric dyes and pigments away from light to prevent fading over time. Digital swatch libraries allow you to save custom colors for easy access later.
Consider Cultural Meanings
Red is a color woven into many cultures, often with symbolism attached. Make sure the shade of red you choose fits with any cultural context it will be used in. For example, in China red symbolizes luck, happiness and prosperity. But in South Africa it’s associated with mourning. So be sensitive to unintentional meanings. Do your research to pick the appropriate red.
Use Color Purposefully
With so many shades to choose from, select your red with intent. Bright, warm reds grab attention. Dark or muted reds are subtle and sophisticated. Know what impression and mood you want to create, then craft the perfect red to match that goal. A custom red gives you complete control over the emotional impact.
Conclusion
Making your own shade of red requires understanding color theory, carefully selecting a base hue, methodically adjusting the undertone, value and temperature, proper mixing technique, testing different mediums, and being aware of cultural context. It’s a nuanced process, but rewards you with a red tailored exactly to your needs. A custom red can convey passion and energy or tranquility and timelessness. Use reds purposefully to add impact to your design. With practice mixing reds, you’ll be able to produce beautiful shades that deliver the perfect visual message.
