When mixing colors, it can sometimes be unclear what the resulting color will be. Green and blue are two primary colors, so mixing them results in a secondary color. Understanding color theory and the effect mixing colors has on their hues and saturation can help predict what color green and blue make when combined.
In painting, green is one of the primary colors and blue is one of the primary colors. Primary colors are colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors together. When primary colors are mixed, they make secondary colors. Secondary colors are made by mixing two primary colors together.
So what color does green and blue make when mixed together? Green and blue make a bluish-green color. The specific resulting color depends on the shade and intensity of the green and blue used. Mixing a brighter green with a brighter blue will result in a brighter bluish-green. Mixing a deep forest green with a midnight blue will result in a deeper, richer bluish-green.
The Color Wheel
To better understand what color green and blue make when mixed, it helps to visualize colors on a color wheel. A color wheel shows the relationship between colors. There are primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors.
| Primary Colors | Secondary Colors | Tertiary Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Orange | Red-orange |
| Yellow | Green | Yellow-green |
| Blue | Purple | Blue-purple |
The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. When two primary colors are mixed, they make the secondary colors – purple, green, and orange. When a primary and secondary color are mixed, they make the tertiary colors – red-orange, yellow-green, and blue-purple.
Looking at the color wheel, green sits between yellow and blue. When green and blue are mixed, the resulting color is a greenish-blue, landing between green and blue on the color wheel. The exact hue will depend on the green and blue shades used.
Color Mixing Basics
When mixing colors, it helps to understand some basic color theory principles:
– Primary colors cannot be created by mixing other colors. The primary colors are red, yellow and blue.
– Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors. For example, red and yellow make orange.
– Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel. For example, red and orange make red-orange.
– Complementary colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel. They create brown or gray when mixed.
– Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. They create a range of hues of similar vibrancy when mixed.
– Colors that sit close to each other on the color wheel generally mix well and make pleasant colors. Colors opposite each other tend to dull each other.
So when looking at the color wheel, green and blue are analogous colors that sit next to each other. This means they will mix well together and create a range of bluish-green hues. The resulting color will be vibrant like the parent colors. If green and blue were complementary colors opposite each other, they would dull each other and mix to a brownish or gray color.
Mixing Paint Colors
When working with paints, mixing green and blue will result in a bluish-green secondary color. The specific hue and vibrancy depends on the individual green and blue paint shades used.
Here is a look at common green and blue paint shades and the bluish-greens they mix to:
| Green Shade | Blue Shade | Mixed Color |
|---|---|---|
| Lime green | Cyan | Bright bluish-green |
| Forest green | Royal blue | Deep teal green |
| Olive green | Navy blue | Dark blue-green |
When mixing green and blue paint, start with small amounts of each color. Gradually add more blue for a more blue-dominated green, or more green for a more green-dominated blue. The ratio of each color used affects the final mixed hue.
Some tips for mixing green and blue paint:
– Use a paint palette or disposable plates to mix the colors before applying to your canvas
– Start with a small amount of green and slowly mix in blue to reach your desired hue
– Clean your brush between mixing new color combinations to keep the colors pure
– Be mindful of how much blue or green you are adding to balance the hue
– Mixing complementary colors like red and green can dull the vibrancy
Experimenting by mixing different green and blue shades is a great way to learn how the two primary colors interact. The resulting bluish-green secondary colors can add beautiful variation to your paintings.
Mixing Dyes and Pigments
Green and blue not only mix to make varied hues of bluish-green when painting, but also when working with fabric dyes, cosmetic pigments, food coloring, and other dye-based mediums.
Dyes and pigments follow similar color theory principles as paints. Since green and blue sit next to each other on the color wheel, they will mix well together and create harmonious bluish-green shades. Their high vibrancy will be retained when mixing.
Here are some examples of bluish-green colors created when mixing green and blue dyes and pigments:
| Medium | Green Shade | Blue Shade | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food coloring | Leaf green | Electric blue | Vibrant bluish-green |
| Cosmetic pigment | Avocado | Cobalt blue | Sea green eyeshadow |
| Fabric dye | Moss green | Royal blue | Teal blue-green |
The principles of gradually mixing small amounts and controlling the green to blue ratio apply when working with dyes as well. Test colors on swatches before applying to your final project. Following color theory principles helps predict how the green and blue shades will interact when mixed.
Light and Pigments
When we see color, it is actually light reflecting off of pigments. The color we perceive depends on what wavelengths of light are absorbed vs. reflected.
When green and blue light mix, the result is a shade of cyan (bluish-green). In terms of light wavelengths:
– Blue light is around 450-520 nanometers (nm)
– Green light is around 520-565 nm
– Cyan light is around 490-520 nm
So cyan reflects blue and green wavelengths while absorbing red wavelengths. When green and blue light mix together, the resulting light stays within the range to be perceived as bluish-green cyan.
This same principle applies for pigments. A bluish-green surface contains both blue and green pigments that reflect those light wavelengths. Essentially, mixing green and blue pigments replicates mixing green and blue light.
Computer Color Mixing
With design programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, colors are mixed digitally using RGB values. RGB stands for the amount of red, green, and blue light that makes up each digital color.
In RGB values:
– Green colors have high green values, medium blue values, and low red values
– Blue colors have high blue values, medium green values, and low red values
– Bluish-green colors (cyans) have high green and blue values balanced, with low red values
For example, here are some approximate RGB values:
| Color | RGB Values |
|---|---|
| Forest Green | R: 50 G: 175 B: 105 |
| Royal Blue | R: 120 G: 175 B: 255 |
| Mixed Blue-Green | R: 25 G: 150 B: 200 |
Mixing a forest green with royal blue digitally results in a rich teal blue-green color. Playing with the RGB values allows you to control the exact hue and vibrancy of the mixed color.
Psychology of Green and Blue
Green and blue both have psychological effects associated with them. These attributes carry over to the bluish-green hues they make when mixed together.
Green is associated with:
– Nature
– Health
– Restfulness
– Harmony
Blue is associated with:
– Stability
– Professionalism
– Calmness
– Trust
So bluish-greens take on attributes of both colors, evoking the natural world along with professionalism and tranquility. Bluish-greens like teal and turquoise are often described as relaxing, sophisticated colors. Different saturations of bluish-greens can be tailored to different moods and contexts.
Here are some examples of using green, blue, and bluish-greens in branding and design:
| Color | Use | Psychology |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Green | Nature company logos | Natural, earthy |
| Royal Blue | Financial company logos | Professional, stable |
| Teal | Wellness spa branding | Soothing, tranquil |
Bluish-green sits nicely between the associations of green and blue. Designers can utilize different saturations of bluish-greens to evoke a blend of the two color meanings.
Cultural Meanings of Blue-Green
Interestingly, blue-green colors have historically been rare in nature-based pigments. In many cultures, bluish-green dyes were difficult to produce. As a result, vibrant blue-green shades gained cultural significance.
Here are some examples of blue-green colors in culture:
| Culture | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptians | Egyptian blue | Divinity, afterlife |
| Mayans | Maya blue | Sacrifice, royalty |
| Chinese | Qing | Spirit, nature |
Maya blue, made from indigo and palygorskite clay, was especially prized. It represented sacrifice offerings to the gods. Interestingly, the chemical structure of this unique blue-green made it highly resistant to fading.
While green and blue are common today, their mix of blue-green continues to be associated with natural harmony. Blue-green shades are culturally symbolic of the balance between land and sea, sky and earth.
Conclusion
When exploring what color green and blue make when mixed, the resulting secondary color falls in the bluish-green family. On the color wheel, blue-green shades sit between the primary colors green and blue. Mixing different saturations and hues results in a range of blue-greens from brighter turquoises to deeper teals.
The same color theory principles that apply to paint can be applied to other mediums like dyes, pigments, and light. Digital colors are mixed by adjusting RGB values. Psychologically, blue-green evokes the stability of blue and the naturalness of green. And culturally, bluish-greens have a history of representing meaningful concepts like spirituality and royalty.
So while green mixed with blue may at first seem muddy, following basic color theory reveals the beautiful bluish-green hues they can make. Experimenting with different shades and mediums can showcase the aesthetic possibilities found in this secondary color. When combined creatively, the two primaries green and blue regularly mix to make captivating shades of blue-green.
