Royal purple is a rich, deep shade of purple that has been associated with royalty and luxury throughout history. While traditional royal purple dye was made from a rare sea snail called the Murex, today royal purple can be mixed by combining modern purple dyes and paint pigments. Mixing the perfect royal purple color can take some trial and error, but following some basic color theory and mixing techniques will help you achieve that rich, vibrant purple tone.
The History of Royal Purple
The distinctive royal purple color is tied to the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, where the prized dye was first produced from the Murex sea snail in around 1600 BCE. This complex and expensive process involved extracting the purple-colored mucus from thousands of snails to produce just a small amount of dye. As a result, royal purple fabric became associated with immense wealth and high status.
In many ancient cultures including Rome, Egypt, and Persia, purple dye was reserved only for royalty and high government officials. The rarity and cost of Tyrian purple meant the color signified luxury, nobility, and power. Emperors and kings wore purple robes and senators wore purple-striped togas. The tradition continued for centuries, with European kings and queens donning purple garments as a symbol of monarchic authority.
While synthetic dyes have made purple textiles much more accessible over time, the color still retains its royal mystique. Adding a touch of rich, vibrant purple can evoke those luxurious and elegant connotations in design, fashion, and decor.
The Color Theory Behind Mixing Royal Purple
On the color wheel, purple sits between red and blue. Purple pigments are created by mixing the primary colors red and blue. Within the purple family, royal purple specifically is a blend of red-violet and blue-violet.
Here are some useful color mixing tips when creating a royal purple hue:
- Start with a blue with red undertones or a red with blue undertones as your base color. Stay away from primary blue and red which will make purple look overly bright or dark.
- Use a small amount of deep blue such as ultramarine blue or phthalo blue to darken the shade if needed.
- Add just a touch of white or black paint to adjust the saturation or lightness.
- Aim for a rich, saturated, slightly reddish purple without appearing too pink or crimson.
Alternatively, you can mix complementary colors such as purple with yellow to create a more muted, antique royal purple. Keep in mind your desired use for the color and what tone you want to achieve.
Mixing Royal Purple Paint
When working with paint, keeping the above color theory in mind will help you blend a perfect royal purple. Here are some options for mixing it with different paint mediums:
Acrylic Paint
With acrylics, a good starting point is mixing one part phthalo or ultramarine blue to two parts crimson or magenta red. If you want a warmer, more red-based purple, use more crimson. For a cooler, bluer purple use more blue. Here is a simple acrylic royal purple recipe:
- 1 part phthalo blue
- 2 parts crimson red
- A tiny bit of black or white paint to adjust shade and saturation
Test your mixed color on a paint palette to ensure you reach the right tone before applying to your surface.
Oil Paint
With oil paints, combining alizarin crimson and French ultramarine blue will produce a beautifully rich royal purple. Use about twice as much crimson as blue and mix thoroughly before testing the swatch. The longer oil paints blend together on the palette, the deeper the final purple color.
Alternatively, start by mixing one of the pre-mixed oil paint colors in the purple family such as violet or magenta. Then customize the shade by adding more red, blue, black, or white oil paint.
Watercolor
For watercolor painting, phthalo blue and alizarin crimson or quinacridone red offer vibrant base colors. Use about two or three drops of blue to start with one drop of red in your mixing well or palette. Water down the pigments significantly to allow the colors to blend smoothly.
If your blended purple is too light or dull, continue adding very small amounts of purple, red, or blue pigment to reach the right royal purple intensity.
Mixing Royal Purple Dye
While natural purple dyes from sources like flowers or berries offer an organic approach, commercial fabric dyes will provide the most flexibility and long-lasting results. Here are some options for dyeing fabric or clothing a rich royal purple hue:
Liquid Dye
Using a liquid dye formula allows you to fully customize your purple tone. Mix a blue dye such as Navy Blue or Sapphire Blue with a red dye like Cherry Red or Wine Red. Combine in a jar starting with about 2 parts red dye to 1 part blue. Mix well and test on a fabric swatch, then adjust the ratio as needed until you match the purple shade you want.
Dye Powder
Similar to liquid dyes, mixing complementary dye powders can produce any purple. Start with primary colors like Dharma Trading’s Fuchsia Red and Turquoise Blue. Mix the powders thoroughly before whisking a small amount into hot water to test the color on white fabric.
For a deeper purple, add more red powder. To mute or darken the shade, add a small amount of black dye powder.
Pre-mixed Dye
Many craft stores carry ready-made purple dyes that reduce the guesswork. Look for a dye labeled as purple, violet, eggplant or lilac. Samples like Jacquard’s Rich Purple or Dylon’s Regal Purple offer an easy shortcut to dying fabrics royal purple.
Combining Purple Fabric Dyes
| Dye 1 | Dye 2 | Ratio | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy blue | Fuchsia | 1:2 | Rich royal purple |
| Violet | Wine red | 2:1 | Deep reddish purple |
| Eggplant purple | Black | 4:1 | Dark, muted purple |
Best Practices for Perfecting Purple
Mastering that true royal purple color may take some testing and tweaking. Here are a few best practices when mixing:
- Make small sample batches first to preview colors before mixing a large quantity.
- Record your color combinations and ratios that work to recreate shades easily.
- Use consistent mixing techniques – don’t rush the blending process.
- Ensure colors are thoroughly mixed before evaluating the result.
- Adjust in small increments, only adding tiny amounts of additional color.
- Compare swatches to color images for the closest match.
- Match lighting conditions when previewing purples for the most accurate color.
With some thoughtful testing and a bit of color theory know-how, you’ll be expertly mixing luxurious royal purples in no time. Whether you’re painting a canvas, dyeing fabric and clothing, or adding a regal touch to decor, keep these tips in mind for purple perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What two colors make royal purple?
Royal purple is made by blending the primary colors red and blue. Aim for a blue with red undertones and red with blue undertones for the richest royal purple result.
Is purple a primary or secondary color?
Purple is a secondary color, meaning it is created by mixing two primary colors – red and blue.
What shade of purple represents royalty?
Royal purple is the specific shade associated with royalty, nobility, luxury and ambition. It is a rich, deep purple with a slightly reddish tone.
How do you darken royal purple?
To darken a royal purple hue, add a small amount of black, blue, or violet paint, dye or pigment. Use black sparingly as too much can make purple muddy. For a more muted, antique royal purple, mix with a complementary yellow.
What is the hex code for royal purple?
The hex code for standard royal purple is #7851A9. This code signifies a rich, reddish purple tone. There are also lighter and darker royal purple shades with codes like #9E7CBF or #4E387E.
Conclusion
With its links to royalty and luxury, royal purple has a special allure that makes it perfect for special projects or accent pieces. By understanding basic color theory and following essential mixing techniques, you can easily achieve that regal purple tone. Experiment with the right blend of blue and red dyes, paints or fabrics to concoct a stunning shade fit for a king or queen.
