When it comes to mixing colors, red and blue are two of the primary colors on the color wheel. Combining these colors results in a brand new secondary color with its own unique properties. Keep reading to find out exactly what color is created when red and blue are mixed together.
The Basics of Mixing Red and Blue
Red, blue, and yellow are known as the three primary colors. This is because they cannot be created by mixing other colors together. Secondary colors are formed by mixing two primary colors. For example, mixing red and yellow makes orange, mixing blue and yellow makes green, and mixing red and blue makes purple.
The specific shade of purple created by mixing red and blue depends on the exact shades of red and blue used. A bright red and bright blue will make a vivid purple. Mixing darker or muted shades of red and blue will result in a more subdued purple. But no matter the shades, combining any red with any blue will invariably result in some type of purple.
The Color Theory Behind Red, Blue, and Purple
On the traditional RYB color wheel used by artists, red, yellow, and blue are considered the primary triad of colors. All other colors stem from mixing these primary hues.
Secondary colors like purple are directly between the two primary colors used to make them on the color wheel. Red and blue are opposite each other, with purple directly between them. This means that purple takes on aspects of both red and blue.
The proximity on the color wheel results in colors that blend seamlessly. Red and blue are complementary colors, meaning they oppose each other in hue. When blended, they neutralize each other’s saturation. This allows the colors to mix without becoming muddy.
The Properties of Purple
By mixing a warm color like red with a cool color like blue, purple takes on both warm and cool properties. Purples with more red content will appear warmer, while those with more blue content will seem cooler.
In color psychology, purple is associated with royalty, luxury, ambition, creativity, and imagination. It’s seen an eccentric, individual color that promotes uniqueness. Lighter purples can seem romantic, feminine, and nostalgic. Meanwhile, darker purples feel more mysterious, sophisticated, and even ominous.
Purple has the energy and intensity of red plus the calming, spiritual quality of blue. This makes it a complex, intriguing color with great visual impact.
Creating the Perfect Purple
With paint or dye, mixing any red and any blue will always make purple. But the specific shades used alter the final color. Here are some examples of popular purple shades created from red and blue:
- Bright red + bright blue = vivid purple
- Crimson red + navy blue = royal purple
- Maroon red + indigo blue = dark purple
- Pink red + periwinkle blue = lavender purple
The mixing ratio also changes the tone. Using more red than blue results in a warmer, pinker purple. Using more blue than red gives a cooler, bluer purple. Mixing equal parts red and blue paint makes a nicely balanced, neutral purple.
Mixing Red and Blue With Other Mediums
While painted and dyed colors easily mix into new hues, mixing red and blue works differently for other mediums.
With light, red and blue make magenta. Overlapping beams of red and blue light combine to create light that appears purple.
When it comes to pigments, such as colored pencils or crayons, laying down red and blue side-by-side gives the illusion of blending into purple. The colors remain distinct rather than truly mixing, but appear merged to the eye.
Digital formats like RGB coloring for screens rely on mixing light. So when working digitally, combining red and blue code creates purple pixels.
Interesting Facts About Purple
Beyond just mixing two primary colors, purple has some fascinating trivia behind it:
- Purple rarely occurs naturally in nature, adding to its mystical allure in ancient times.
- The first synthetic purple dye was created in 1856 and became immensely popular for fabric.
- Violet, a lighter purple, has the shortest wavelength of visible light.
- Purple is the symbolic color for international domestic violence awareness.
- The purple iris is the state flower of Tennessee.
Pros of Mixing Red and Blue
While you can’t go wrong mixing any two primaries, red and blue have unique benefits when blended:
- No muddiness since they are complementaries
- Creates a vivid secondary color
- Allows endless gorgeous purple shades
- Balances the energy of red and calm of blue
Cons of Mixing Red and Blue
A few cons exist when combining red and blue:
- Can sometimes look unnatural if poorly mixed
- Harder to achieve natural-looking purples with paint
- Less flexibility in mixing than with yellow
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about blending red and blue:
Why does mixing red and blue make purple?
Purple is directly between red and blue on the color wheel. Mixing complementary colors results in a secondary color of the hue between them. This color theory fundamental explains why combining red pigment and blue pigment produces purple.
Can you make purple without blue?
It’s impossible to create true purple without blue since purple resides between red and blue on the color wheel. But mixing red with a tiny bit of green can produce a brownish, dull purple look.
What two colors make up purple?
The only two colors that can blend directly into purple are red and blue. Violet is a lighter purple made by mixing red, blue, and white.
What does purple represent?
Purple is associated with royalty, luxury, creativity, mystery, and magic. The balance of red and blue gives purple both energetic and calming qualities.
Why is purple rare in nature?
Very few natural pigments exist that create true purple tones. In ancient times, this rarity made purple dye extremely valuable. The prized Tyrian purple came from mollusks.
Conclusion
Mixing any red and any blue always produces purple. The specific hue depends on the red and blue shades used and the proportions they are mixed in. Understanding color theory helps explain how the secondary color purple naturally results from blending the primary colors red and blue.
Purple takes on qualities of both the warmth of red and coolness of blue. So mixing red and blue offers the vibrancy of red with the calming aspects of blue. With its regal associations and visual power, the color purple created from red and blue has intrigued artists and designers for centuries.
Visualizing Red and Blue Mixing
| Red Shade | Blue Shade | Resulting Purple |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet | Cobalt | Vivid purple |
| Crimson | Navy | Royal purple |
| Magenta | Periwinkle | Lavender |