Purple is a secondary color that is made by mixing the primary colors blue and red. The exact proportions of blue and red needed to make purple depends on the shade of purple you want to achieve. Darker purples require more blue, while lighter purples require more red. Understanding color theory and the basics of mixing paints or light can help you determine how much of each primary color you need to make the perfect purple.
The Basics of Mixing Colors
In art and design, there are three primary colors – red, yellow, and blue. By mixing the primary colors together, you can create the secondary colors orange, green, and purple.
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel. For example, red and purple make red-violet.
The more of a color you add to the mix, the more the resulting color will shift towards that color. So the more blue you add when mixing red and blue, the bluer or more violet the purple will become. The more red you add, the more raspberry or magenta the purple will shift.
Color Mixing for Painting
When mixing colored paints, the general rule of thumb is to use one part of a primary color and two parts of the other primary color to achieve a nicely balanced secondary color.
So for purple, you would mix:
| 1 part blue paint | + | 2 parts red paint |
This proportion usually creates a nice rich purple. But you can adjust the ratio to create different shades:
| More blue: | 2 parts blue paint | + | 1 part red paint |
| More red: | 1 part blue paint | + | 3 parts red paint |
Adding white paint will make the purple lighter and more lavender-like. Adding black paint will make it darker and more eggplant.
The exact recipe will depend on the specific paint colors you are using. Crimson red will mix differently with phthalo blue than cadmium red will mix with ultramarine blue. So some experimentation may be needed to find your perfect purple.
Color Mixing with Light
Mixing colored light, such as with theater lighting or computer displays, follows slightly different rules than mixing paints.
With light, the primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). Mixing red and blue light will make a purple color.
Computer displays and TV screens create colors by mixing different amounts of RGB light. So on a color picker, choosing a reddish purple color like magenta will have high amounts of red and blue light:
| Magenta: | R: 255 | G: 0 | B: 255 |
While a more blue/violet purple will have higher blue values:
| Violet: | R: 127 | G: 0 | B: 255 |
By adjusting the RGB values, you can mix the exact purple hue you want.
Using Color Mixing to Find Your Perfect Purple
Finding the right purple for your project takes some experimentation. Here are some tips:
– Start with a 1:2 ratio of blue to red as a baseline purple
– Adjust the ratio to add more blue for cooler, violet purples or more red for warmer, raspberry purples
– Make a paint swatch or color sampler to test shades before committing to a large mixing
– Add white paint/light to lighten the purple towards lavender
– Add black paint/shadow to darken the purple towards eggplant or plum
– Look at a color wheel – purples between blue and red will gradually shift in hue
– Use RGB/HEX codes if mixing colors digitally, adjust the red and blue values
– Test your mixed purple against other purples to compare the hue
– Check the mixed purple against your project materials to ensure the right tone
– Take into account light conditions – the purple may shift in natural vs. artificial light
With some simple color theory and experimentation, you can find the perfect amount of blue and red to make the ideal purple hue for any project.
Why Do Red and Blue Make Purple?
On a basic level, red and blue make purple when mixed because of how our eyes perceive color.
The retina in our eyes contains photoreceptor cells called cones. There are three types of cones that are each sensitive to different wavelengths of light:
| Red cones | – Absorb long wavelengths |
| Green cones | – Absorb medium wavelengths |
| Blue cones | – Absorb short wavelengths |
When all the cone types are stimulated equally, we perceive white or neutral light. Different combinations of stimulation create all the colors we see.
For example, only red cone stimulation appears red. Only blue cone stimulation appears blue.
But stimulating both red and blue cones together creates the perception of purple. Our brain blends the long and short wavelengths into the new color.
This is why mixing any two colors of light will create a blend of those colors. Red and blue make purple, red and green make yellow, and blue and green light mix to form cyan.
Our eyes and visual cortex allow color mixing to work this way. The cone cells provide the raw data of different wavelengths, and the brain processes and interprets those signals as color.
Cultural History of the Color Purple
The cultural associations and meanings of the color purple have shifted throughout history. Here is a brief overview:
Ancient Times
– Purple was the color of royalty, opulence and prestige due to the rarity and expense of purple dyes. Roman emperors wore purple robes.
– Purple dyes were extracted from seashells in laborious processes taking thousands of shells for a small amount of dye. This made purple fabric extremely expensive.
– Common people would rarely ever see or own genuine purple garments or textiles. Purple became synonymous with extravagance.
Middle Ages
– European nobility wore purple as a status symbol. Lower ranking nobles were restricted to lavender, light blues or violets.
– Purple clothing was regulated by Sumptuary laws that dictated what colors could be worn based on class and wealth.
– Purple retained connotations of power, privilege, and ambition.
18th-19th Centuries
– Improved dyeing processes made purple clothing more widely available and affordable.
– Light purple or lavender was worn by women as a sign of femininity and delicacy.
– Dark purple remained associated with extravagance and exclusivity, used in decadent home decor.
Today
– Purple is embraced as a creative, imaginative color associated with individuality and uniqueness.
– It is fused with youth culture and counterculture movements.
– Purple creates a balance of stability and energy, making it popular in advertising and branding.
– It retains a sense of magic, imagination and spirituality. Deep purple can still feel luxurious and mystical.
So while the specific properties of mixing red and blue don’t change, their cultural meaning as the color purple has evolved significantly through history.
Uses of Purple in Art and Design
That rich, complex color made from mixing red and blue has many artistic uses. Here are some of the ways purple can infuse art and design:
Painting
– Dark purples create moody, dream-like backgrounds. Light purples make soft, hazy skies and romantic landscapes.
– Mixing complementary purples and yellows make both colors “pop”.
– In portraits, purple adds a sense of luxury and nobility when painting royal subjects.
– Cool purples with more blue recede in space. Warm, red-based purples advance forward.
Textile Design
– Deep purple or violet dyes create an expensive, upscale look for linens or clothing.
– Light purple has a delicate, sentimental feeling. Lavender evokes springtime.
– Combining purple with black suggests mystery, allure, and sophistication.
Interior Design
– A touch of purple in a room feels bold, creative, and stylish. Too much can overwhelm.
– Light purples are calm and soothing in bedrooms. Dark eggplant purples feel decadent in formal dining rooms.
– Pair purple with gold accents for an opulent, luxurious look.
Graphic Design
– Purple pops against black. High contrast purple on white is energetic.
– Light purples feel magical, spiritual and mystical. Dark purples are dramatic.
– Use purple for creative brands, or brands targeting children and imagination.
– Light purple backgrounds are playful. Dark backgrounds create mood.
Artists and designers are drawn to that unique secondary color created from red and blue. Purple’s blend of passion and tranquility suits many artistic moods and styles.
Psychology of the Color Purple
The color purple has depth in its symbolism, meaning, and emotional associations:
Positive Meanings
– Wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic
– Ambition, nobility, luxury, extravagance, and quality
– Imagination, spirituality, enlightenment, balance, harmony
– Eccentricity, individuality, nonconformity, visionary thinking
Negative Meanings
– Decadence, superiority, aloofness, ostentatiousness
– Artificiality, escapism, fraud, distrust, frustration
Moods
– Uplifted, imaginative, sensual, compassionate, contemplative
– Overindulged, overwhelmed, anxious, impatient, arrogant
Personalities
– Artistic, wise, individualistic, visionary, luxurious
– Isolated, naive, insecure, obsessed, sensitive
There’s richness in the blend of red’s passion and blue’s tranquility. Purple contains multitudes – it can lift us up or hide truth. It inspires or indulges. Balancing purple’s extremes leads to wisdom.
Conclusion
Mixing the primary colors red and blue makes the glorious secondary color purple. Adjusting the proportions shifts hues from violet to magenta. Adding white lightens, adding black darkens. Purple is culturally rich yet always unique. It inspires artists while creating balance. Red plus blue equals so much more than the sum of its parts. This mix of colors comes together to create purple magic.
