Black and yellow are two distinct colors that create a striking visual contrast when placed together. Despite their stark differences, these shades can combine to form harmonious and vibrant secondary colors. So what are the specific colors that result when black and yellow mix?
Primary Colors
To understand the colors that black and yellow make when combined, it helps to first review the basics of color theory. The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. These pigments can’t be created by mixing other colors, but all other colors can be formed using combinations of the primaries.
The secondary colors – green, orange, and purple – are each made by mixing two of the primary colors. For example, red and yellow make orange. Tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary and secondary shade, like red-orange or yellow-green.
Shades of Black
Black is not technically considered a color, but rather a shade. Black is the absence of visible light. Since no light is reflected back to the eye, black objects appear dark.
There are different shades of black, depending on how much black pigment is used. A very dark black with a high concentration of pigment is sometimes called jet black. Off-black is a black color that is noticeably lighter and contains more gray.
Shades of Yellow
Unlike black, yellow is a primary color on the visible spectrum of light. Yellow has the highest luminance of any color, meaning it reflects the most light. Varying shades of yellow are produced by adding black or white to pure yellow pigment.
Lighter tints like lemon yellow contain more white. Darker shades like mustard yellow have more black mixed in. Pure yellow with no black or white added is sometimes called primary yellow.
Mixing Black and Yellow
When black and yellow are combined, they produce shades of green, brown, and orange. The specific resulting colors depend on the original shades of black and yellow used and their proportions.
Here are some examples of colors created by mixing black and yellow:
| Black Shade Mixed | Yellow Shade Mixed | Resulting Color |
| Jet black | Lemon yellow | Dark olive green |
| Off-black | Primary yellow | Mustard yellow-brown |
| Dark gray | Golden yellow | Dull orange |
Dark Olive Green
When jet black is mixed with a light, pale yellow like lemon yellow, it creates a very deep forest green color. With more black than yellow, the resulting shade is dark olive green.
Dark olive green is a rich, neutral color that pairs well with other shades. It has a relaxing effect and is often used in interior design. The natural pigment is found in evergreen trees and shrubs.
Mustard Yellow-Brown
Combining an off-black or dark gray with a primary or golden yellow produces a mustard yellow-brown tone. With more yellow than black, the color is more of a brownish yellow.
Mustard yellow-brown is an earthy tone reminiscent of the condiment mustard. It provides a warming contrast to cooler shades like blues and grays. The color has an antique, rustic feeling.
Dull Orange
When lighter amounts of dark gray and rich golden yellow are blended, the result is a muted orange shade. Too much black muddies the orange, resulting in a brown. But with more yellow than black, the outcome is a dusty orange.
Dull orange is a softer, more subtle version of bright orange. It has a vintage, faded look as opposed to the vividness of pure orange. Dull orange works well for accent colors that shouldn’t overpower.
Color Mixing Ratios
The exact shades created by mixing black and yellow depend largely on the ratios of each color used. More black relative to yellow will yield darker browns and olives. More yellow produces lighter greens and oranges.
As a general rule of thumb, mixing one part black with two parts yellow will create greenish blacks. Two parts black to one part yellow makes more brownish blacks. Equal parts black and yellow result in neutral olive and mustard colors.
Light vs. Pigment Mixing
It’s important to note the difference between mixing colors of light and mixing actual pigments. With light, combining colors gives additive results, meaning all the wavelengths are present. When pigments are mixed, wavelengths are absorbed or subtracted.
For example, mixing wavelengths of yellow and blue light creates white light. But mixing blue and yellow paint pigments makes green paint. The same principle applies to mixing black and yellow.
Tones, Shades and Tints
In color theory, tones, shades and tints refer to variations in color lightness or saturation. A tone is a color with gray added to dull it. A shade is a color with black added to darken it. And a tint refers to a color with white added to lighten it.
Any of the colors created by mixing black and yellow can be further modified into darker shades, softer tones or lighter tints. For example, adding white to a mustard yellow-brown makes it lighter. Adding gray softens the vibrancy. And extra black makes it very dark.
Digital Color Mixing
With digital design and image editing software like Photoshop or Illustrator, you can easily experiment with mixing yellow and black. The color mixer feature allows you to adjust the percentage of each color to produce custom shades.
Start with the yellow and black swatches. Then adjust the slider towards yellow to mix in more yellow. Slide it towards black to add more black. Watch the hex code and RGB values change as you mix.
Traditional Pigment Mixing
To mix black and yellow paints or pigments, start with a palette for blending. Squeeze out the black and yellow colors separately. Then use a paintbrush or palette knife to mix them together.
Mix in more yellow for lighter greens and oranges. Add more black for deeper olives and browns. Blend until you achieve your desired hue. Test the mixed color on a scrap canvas to ensure you have the right shade before painting.
Textile Dyeing
For dyeing fabric or clothing black and yellow, you can use fiber reactive dyes. Mix the dyes together in a dye bath according to the manufacturer’s instructions to get the color you want.
Make sure to measure carefully, as you can always add more dye if needed but can’t remove it once mixed. Dye a test swatch first before dyeing a whole fabric item in your custom black-yellow color.
Other Color Combinations
Black and yellow are just one possible color pairing. Black can mix with any other hue to darken and mute it into rich shades and tones. Other black mixtures include:
- Black and red – deep burgundy, maroon
- Black and blue – dark teal, navy
- Black and white – gray, charcoal
- Black and pink – mauve, taupe
The same applies for yellow combined with colors other than black, such as:
- Yellow and red – orange
- Yellow and blue – green
- Yellow and purple – amber
Understanding how to mix color pairs like black and yellow allows artists, designers, and anyone creatively working with color to expand their palette options.
Psychology of Black and Yellow
Color psychology considers the emotional impact of different hues and color combinations. Black represents power, elegance, and mystery. Yellow is energetic and symbolizes optimism.
When combined, black and yellow take on symbolic meanings of their own. The contrast conveys both warning and excitement. This makes black-yellow ideal for taxi cabs, construction equipment, and warning signs.
In Eastern cultures, black and yellow represent courage and freedom. In medieval times, black and yellow signified resilient ambition.
Examples in Nature
Black and yellow coloration has evolved in the natural world to signify toxicity and environmental adaptation. Some common black and yellow animals and insects include:
- Yellowjacket wasps
- Hornets
- Striped skunks
- Yellow and black spiders like orb weavers and garden spiders
- Pit vipers
- Yellow and black millipedes
Plants like yellow bell peppers that turn black-purple, black-eyed Susans, and black-eyed peas all contain black and yellow coloring as well.
Conclusion
Black and yellow combine to create shades of green, brown, and orange. The specific resulting color depends on the starting shades of black and yellow and their proportions. Darker blacks like jet black mixed with lighter yellows make deeper greens. Brighter yellows when blended with lighter blacks produce warmer oranges and browns. Understanding color theory helps artists and designers expertly mix custom black-yellow colors.
