Color theory and color mixing are fascinating topics for both artists and scientists. When two or more colors are combined, they interact in different ways to create a new resulting color. Understanding the basics of color theory can help explain why certain color mixtures create the effects they do. For example, red and yellow paints blend together to make orange. Mixing blue and red paint creates purple. The specific proportions of the colors being mixed and the type of paints used impact the shade of the new color. With some basic knowledge of color theory, you can learn to intentionally mix custom colors by tweaking hue, brightness and saturation.
The Basics of Color Theory
Sir Isaac Newton first developed color theory in 1666 when he discovered that white light split into the visible color spectrum when passed through a prism. He identified the seven colors of the rainbow as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, which can be remembered by the acronym ROYGBIV.
Later scholars such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Philipp Otto Runge built upon Newton’s color theory research. In the 19th century, chemists and physicists including Thomas Young, Hermann von Helmholtz and James Clerk Maxwell contributed discoveries about how the human eye perceives color through cone cells in the retina. These cone cells respond to red, green and blue light. The way our eyes interpret combinations of these three primary colors enables us to see the full spectrum of visible colors.
Modern color theory is based on the color wheel and the three main attributes of color: hue, value and chroma. Hue refers to the base color or wavelength (red, orange, yellow, etc.). Value indicates how light or dark a color is. Chroma (also called saturation) is about the intensity of color from muted to vivid.
Primary Colors
The three main categories of colors are primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary colors are those which cannot be created by mixing other colors. For the traditional RYB (red, yellow, blue) color wheel used by artists, the primary colors are:
– Red
– Yellow
– Blue
The primary colors in RGB (red, green, blue) color theory used for projected light, TV and computer displays are:
– Red
– Green
– Blue
In CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color theory used for print design and inks, the primary colors are:
– Cyan
– Magenta
– Yellow
Understanding which primary color system is being used is key when exploring color relationships and mixing. While red, yellow and blue are considered the main primary colors, green, violet and orange are sometimes included as primary colors as well.
Secondary Colors
Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors. The three secondary colors are:
– Orange (made by mixing red and yellow)
– Green (made by mixing blue and yellow)
– Purple (made by mixing blue and red)
These are called secondary colors because they rely on the primary colors. In RGB and RYB color systems, secondary colors fall between primary colors on the color wheel. For CMYK inks, mixing two primary inks creates the secondary colors.
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are made by mixing one primary color with one secondary color. Examples of tertiary colors include:
– Red-orange
– Yellow-orange
– Yellow-green
– Blue-green
– Blue-violet
– Red-violet
Tertiary colors have names that indicate their primary and secondary color components. They are located between the primary and secondary colors on the color wheel.
Color Wheel Showing Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colors
Here is a color wheel summary showing the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary colors:
| Primary | Secondary | Tertiary |
| Red | Orange | Red-orange |
| Yellow | Green | Yellow-orange |
| Blue | Purple | Yellow-green |
| Blue-green | ||
| Blue-violet | ||
| Red-violet |
These color relationships help explain how mixing colors works and why certain color combinations are created.
Mixing Primary Paint Colors
When working with paints, mixing the primary colors in different ratios will result in all the secondary and tertiary colors. Here are the results of blending the primary paint pigments:
Red + Yellow = Orange
Yellow + Blue = Green
Blue + Red = Purple
Red + Yellow + Blue = Neutral Browns and Greys
The more of the yellow primary that is used, the warmer the brown or grey blend will be. Adding more blue will cool down the mix.
Mixing Primary Light Colors
RGB color mixing relies on combining colored light beams. This is how colors are created on TVs, computer monitors and projectors. The primary colors of light are red, green and blue.
The main principles of light color mixing are:
– Red + Green = Yellow
– Red + Blue = Magenta
– Green + Blue = Cyan
– Red + Green + Blue = White
Varying the intensity of the light colors impacts the saturation and lightness of the mixed color. Computer displays and TVs use RGB light mixing to create the full spectrum of colors.
Mixing Primary Pigment Colors
With pigment color mixing using CMYK primaries, the principles are:
– Cyan + Magenta = Blue
– Cyan + Yellow = Green
– Magenta + Yellow = Red
– Cyan + Magenta + Yellow = Grey or Black
Cyan, magenta and yellow printing inks absorb select wavelengths of light rather than emitting colored light like RGB. Therefore, combining all three primaries absorbs most visible light for black or dark grey.
Mixing Complementary Colors
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Common complementary color pairs include:
– Red and green
– Yellow and purple
– Blue and orange
When complementary colors are mixed, they tend to mute each other resulting in browns, greys or neutralized hues. For example, orange paint added to blue paint makes a more muted blue.
This graying effect is useful for toning down colors or intentionally creating brown or grey tones. Complementary colors can also be placed side-by-side to create high contrast.
Color Temperature
Color temperature refers to how warm or cool a color appears. Warm colors like red, orange and yellow evoke heat or sunlight. Cool colors like blue, green and violet are reminiscent of ice and water.
When mixing colors, the ratio of warm and cool colors impacts the temperature of the resulting blend. For example, a green with more yellow in it will appear warmer than one with more blue.
Understanding color temperature helps artists and designers select palettes to convey mood and lighting effects. Warm colors tend to energize and stand out, while cool colors feel more calming and recede.
Value and Intensity
When mixing colors, hue is not the only consideration. The lightness or darkness (value) and the saturation or mutedness (chroma) also affect the color.
Adding white to a color lightens it and allows pastel hues. Mixing with black darkens and deepens color shades. Introducing grey reduces intensity for softer or vintage color effects.
Painters may also thin paint with water or medium to alter chroma. Using less saturated colors like pale pink rather than vivid magenta will give a softer effect.
So color mixing involves assessing how colors interact on all three dimensions:
– Hue
– Value
– Chroma
Basic Color Mixing Guides
Here are some quick tips for mixing common colors:
Brown
– Mix complementary colors like red/green, orange/blue, yellow/purple
– Blend all 3 primary colors
– Add white, black or grey to dull intensity
Pink
– Mix red with small amounts of white
– Add white or light grey to red
– Combine red and small quantities of blue
Orange
– Blend red and yellow
– Add hints of yellow to red
– Mix hints of red into yellow
Purple
– Mix red and blue
– Add small amounts of blue to red
– Add small amounts of red to blue
Green
– Mix yellow and blue
– Add yellow to blue
– Add blue to yellow
– Mix complements like red and green
Neutral Grey
– Mix all 3 primary colors equally
– Add white, black or grey
– Combine complements like red/green or orange/blue
Teal
– Mix blue and green
– Add hints of blue to green
– Add hints of green to blue
Advanced Color Mixing and Theory
Mastering color mixing takes considerable practice alongside knowledge of color relationships. Important advanced topics include:
Color Temperature: Perceived warmth or coolness. Important for mood, contrast, lighting effects.
Complementary Colors: Colors opposite on the wheel. Useful for muting, greys, browns, high contrast.
Simultaneous Contrast: Effect where colors influence perceived appearance of neighboring colors.
Choosing Palettes: Selecting specific color schemes or harmonies for designs.
Context and Perception: How surrounding colors impact perception of a focal color.
Optical Mixing: Blending colors through dots/patterns rather than premixing.
Metamerism: Colors matching under some light conditions but not others. Important for pigment selection.
Color Psychology: Cultural and psychological impacts of color choice. Guides color selection.
Digital Color Management: Controlling color mixing across devices and software for accurate and consistent output.
Artists must practice color mixing extensively across media to master blending techniques. But a strong foundation in color theory supports skill development. Even basic knowledge of primary, secondary and tertiary relationships allows intentionally mixing a wide range of hues.
Tips for Learning Color Mixing
Here are some suggestions for mastering color mixing:
– Start by mixing primaries to become familiar with color properties and interactions.
– Experiment and take notes on blending effects with different ratios.
– Learn the warm and cool colors, and practice mixing both.
– Mix a wide variety of hues, values and intensities.
– Study formal color theory to understand why certain mixes work.
– Observe colors in the natural world, photos or artwork. Analyze combinations.
– Use a color wheel and color mixing chart as references.
– Be consistent when controlling paint amounts for reproducibility.
– Mix darker shades first, then lighten as needed with white/grey.
– Ensure colors are fully blended with no streaks left.
– Allow test color swatches to dry fully before assessing accuracy.
– Match colors to a sample rather than mixing from memory.
With consistent practice, learning the basics of color theory will build skill in intentionally mixing any desired color.
Conclusion
Mixing colors is both a science and art. Understanding primary color relationships provides the foundation for blending an endless spectrum. But color perception is complex and influenced by factors like lighting and color properties. Mastering the nuances of mixing takes diligent practice across various media. But the payoff is the ability to customize any imaginable color. Whether subtly tweaking a hue or creating a dramatic palette, the magic of color mixing gives artists exceptional creative control.
