Pink is a light red color that is made by combining two primary colors – red and white. While there are many different shades of pink, from light pink to dark pink, they all contain a mix of red and white pigments. Red and white are the two key ingredients that make various hues of pink when blended together.
Primary Colors
In color theory, there are three primary colors – red, yellow and blue. Primary colors are colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors together. They are the basic building blocks used to create all other colors. When you mix the primary colors together, you get secondary colors.
For example:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Red + Blue = Purple
- Blue + Yellow = Green
White and black are also considered primary colors in some color models, as you cannot create them by mixing other pigments. White reflects all visible wavelengths of light, while black absorbs all wavelengths of light.
Making Pink
Pink sits between the primary colors of red and white on the color wheel. It is made by combining red pigment with white pigment in varying proportions. The more red added, the brighter and more saturated the pink becomes. The more white added, the lighter and softer the pink becomes.
Pure red and pure white exist at opposite ends of the pink spectrum. In the middle are endless shades of light pink, bright pink, pale pink, dusty pink and dark pink.
| Color Amount | Description |
|---|---|
| Mostly red | Hot pink, magenta |
| Equal parts red & white | Bright pink, medium pink |
| Mostly white | Baby pink, pastel pink |
As you increase the amount of white pigment, the pink becomes lighter, desaturated and closer to a neutral tone. As you increase the red pigment, the color becomes more vivid, saturated and bright.
Common Shades of Pink
There are many common shades of pink, ranging from very light to very dark:
- Baby Pink – An extremely light, pale shade of pink.
- Pastel Pink – A light, soft pink with very little saturation.
- Ballet Pink – A light neutral pink named after the soft shoes worn by ballerinas.
- Blush Pink – A medium rosy pink that resembles a natural blush tone.
- Carnation Pink – A medium pink that resembles the color of carnations.
- Salmon Pink – A light peachy-pink that resembles the color of salmon.
- Fuschia – A vivid, purplish pink that is slightly darker and more saturated than magenta.
- Magenta – A bright, saturated pink that leans slightly more towards red than purple.
- Cerise – A vivid, cherry-red inspired pink.
- Hot Pink – A bright, intense pink with maximum saturation.
- Deep Pink – A darker, bolder pink that has a high amount of red pigment.
Tints and Shades of Pink
Within each main shade of pink, there are lighter tints and darker shades:
- A tint is created by mixing more white with a color to lighten it.
- A shade is created by mixing more black with a color to darken it.
For example, a light pink would be considered a tint of pink, while a deep pink would be considered a shade of pink. Pastel pink is a very light tint, while magenta is closer to a pure shade with no added white or black.
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Tint | Light pink, baby pink |
| Pure Hue | Bright pink, fuchsia, magenta |
| Shade | Deep pink, ruby pink |
Understanding tints and shades allows you to modify any pink hue to make it lighter (more white) or darker (more red saturation). This helps create subtle variations within a pink color palette.
How Lighting Affects Pink
The way pink appears to our eyes can change quite a bit depending on the lighting conditions. Direct sunlight versus indoor lighting can make the same pink look very different.
Here are some lighting effects to be aware of:
- Pink will appear lighter and more vibrant in bright sunlight.
- Pink will look more subdued and muted indoors under artificial lighting.
- Pink objects look more vivid at dawn or dusk when the natural light is very warm and pinkish.
- Pink looks richer under candlelight or incandescent bulbs which cast a warm, pinkish light.
- Florescent or LED lights can drain the warmth out of pink, making it look flat and dull.
The angle of light also affects how pink is perceived. Side-lighting or back-lighting will intensify pink, while top-down lighting mutes it. These kinds of color shifts can be used intentionally by visual artists to make colors pop or recede as needed.
Psychology of the Color Pink
Pink is often considered a universally flattering color that represents femininity, innocence, playfulness and warmth. However, pink has many psychological associations and symbolic meanings:
- Girly, feminine, pretty, romantic
- Sweet, cute, innocent, childlike
- Happy, fun, playful, whimsical
- Loving, compassionate, nurturing
- Calm, reassuring, gentle
While both men and women can wear and enjoy pink, it is considered a gendered color in many cultures, associated mostly with girls and women. The strong cultural association between pink and female gender roles has roots as far back as the 18th century.
Pink in Nature
In nature, pink appears in many flowers, plants and animals. Here are some examples of pink coloration in the natural world:
- Cherry blossoms
- Peonies
- Pink roses
- Carnations
- Pink orchids
- Bougainvillea
- Pink lotus flowers
- Pink camellia
- Pink hibiscus
- Pink azaleas
- Pink flamingos
- Pink starfish
- Some coral reefs
- The pink dolphin of the Amazon
- Pink lakes that get their color from algae blooms
These types of pink plant and animal life obtain their rosy hues from pigments such as melanins, carotenoids, flavonoids and rhodoxantins. The pink coloration serves various biological purposes like attracting pollinators, camouflage, warning coloration (aposematism), courtship displays and photosynthesis.
Pink Pigments and Dyes
Historically, pink pigments and dyes were created from natural ingredients and mineral compounds:
- Crushed raspberries, cherries, beets, roses and other pink/red plants
- Rose madder – pigment derived from the root of the madder plant
- Hematite, iron oxide – a pinkish form of the mineral iron oxide
- Cobalt – produces rosy shades when mixed into glass, glazes and paints
- Carmine – a crimson pigment made from crushed cochineal beetles
- Murex purple – ancient pink dye made from Murex sea snails, very rare and expensive
Modern synthetic pink dyes and pigments were later developed and mass produced including:
- Rhodamine
- Biebrich Scarlet – a red azo dye that makes bright pink
- Phloxine – fluorescent red dye used in cosmetics
- Erythrosine – cherry-pink food coloring used in cocktails, candies, etc.
Use of the Color Pink in Fashion
Pink became strongly associated with femininity, beauty and fashion beginning in the 18th century. Soft pastel pink dresses were considered ideally flattering for women with fair complexions.
Here are some notable uses of pink in fashion history:
- Madame de Pompadour (mistress of King Louis XV) decorated her whole estate pink and wore pink outfits trimmed in black lace.
- In the 1920s, pink clothing like dresses, hats, gloves and feather boas became popular among flappers and Hollywood actresses.
- Post-WWII in the 1950s, pink was considered ultra-feminine and used in elegant ladies’ suits, pencil skirts, ball gowns, etc.
- The iconic pink Chanel suit worn by Jackie Kennedy.
- In punk rock subcultures, unconventional neon or dusky pink hair became a rebellious fashion statement.
Today, pink remains a staple color in women’s fashion, beauty and lingerie. Pale pink is considered a classic, flattering color for clothing, makeup and nail polish.
Pink in Art and Design
Many iconic works of art feature the color pink. Here are some examples across different artistic disciplines:
- Birth of Venus – Sandro Botticelli’s Renaissance painting shows Venus emerging from the sea on a giant seashell, with pink hues on her skin and the surrounding waves.
- Pinkie – An 18th century portrait painting by Thomas Lawrence of a child in a pale pink dress.
- Ballet Dancers – The impressionist Edgar Degas painted numerous portraits and sketches of ballerinas in pink tutus.
- Brilliant pinks were widely used by the Fauvists, Expressionists and Surrealists to create stimulating, jarring color combinations.
- Architect Ricardo Legorreta built vivid pink buildings in Mexico City’s Camino Real hotel and Los Clubes neighborhood.
- Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House has bright pink painted steel framing contrasting with the clear glass walls.
- Robert Indiana’s LOVE pop art sculpture uses bright pink for the letter “O”.
These are just a few examples of how pink has been used creatively throughout art history to add visual interest, emotion, and meaning to artistic works.
Conclusion
In summary, the two colors that combine to make various hues of pink are red and white. By mixing red and white pigments, dyes or light, an endless range of pink shades can be created spanning the spectrum from soft pastel pinks to vivid hot pinks. Pink sits between the primary colors of red and white on the color wheel, and tinting or shading pink with white or red allows even further variations. As a color rich with symbolism, pink has decorated art, fashion, products and pop culture for centuries in many creative and inspiring ways.