When it comes to mixing colors, purple and yellow can make a vibrant combination. Combining these colors results in shades of orange, from bright tangerine to deep amber. The specific hue that results depends on the original shades of purple and yellow used and the ratio in which they are mixed. Understanding color theory and the color wheel provides insight into how these secondary colors are produced.
The Basics of Mixing Purple and Yellow
On the traditional RYB (red, yellow, blue) color wheel used by painters and artists, purple sits opposite yellow. These are called complementary colors. When complementary colors are mixed, they neutralize each other and create a gray or brown shade. However, mixing highly saturated, intense shades of purple and yellow usually results in a vivid secondary color instead.
Purple is made by combining red and blue. Yellow is a primary color. When these mix, the resulting color takes on attributes of both the cool purple and warm yellow. Purple’s blue tones interact with the yellow to make greenish shades. The red undertones of purple mix with yellow to create orange. Varying the purple and yellow used affects whether orange or green hues dominate.
Mixing Color Ratios
The ratio of purple to yellow impacts the orange shade produced. Using more yellow makes a lighter, more yellow-based orange. Increasing the amount of purple results in a deeper, redder orange tone. Equal parts purple and yellow generally create an evenly balanced orange. Amber is produced by adding just a small amount of purple to a yellow base.
| Ratio | Resulting Color |
|---|---|
| 10 parts yellow + 1 part purple | Amber |
| 5 parts yellow + 1 part purple | Light orange |
| 2 parts yellow + 1 part purple | Medium orange |
| 1 part yellow + 1 part purple | True orange |
| 1 part yellow + 2 parts purple | Reddish orange |
As more purple is added compared to yellow, the resulting orange takes on a deeper, redder character. With mostly yellow, light peachy orange tones emerge. Varying the purple and yellow ratio provides control over the exact orange shade.
Impact of Color Temperature
Another factor that influences the resulting secondary color is the temperature of the purple and yellow. On the color wheel, yellow ranges from a cool, greenish-yellow to a warm, orangey-yellow. Purple also spans the gamut from cooler reddish purples to warmer blueish purples.
Combining a warm yellow and cool purple typically produces a more golden orange. Mixing a cool yellow and warm purple usually results in a red-orange. Use warm shades of both colors for intense, fiery oranges. Mix cool shades for citrusy oranges with hints of greens and blues. Adjusting the temperatures provides even more control over the tone.
Shade and Tint Effects
The saturation of the purple and yellow also impacts the color mixing. Deeper, richer shades mix to create more intense, saturated oranges. Light tints of purple and yellow make soft pastel peachy oranges. Adding white to the purple and yellow before mixing dilutes the resulting color. Combining pale tints results in a significantly lighter orange than blending darker shades.
Additionally, adding black to the purple and yellow makes darker, shaded versions of the mixed color. A small amount of black deepens the orange to a burnt shade. Extra black makes very dark earthy browns with just hints of the original purple and yellow. Both tinting and shading adjust the intensity and lightness of the mixed secondary color.
Variations from Other Color Models
The traditional RYB color wheel represents just one way of looking at color relationships. Other color models result in slightly different secondary colors when mixing purple and yellow. For example, the RGB (red, green, blue) and CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) models commonly used for light and digital displays contain different primary color components.
In RGB, purple is a mix of blue and red light, but yellow is a primary color. This purple and yellow blend makes a red-orange tone on screen. In the CMY model, purple contains blue and red pigments, while yellow is mixed from green and red. Combining purple and yellow pigments makes a more yellow-orange hue. The resulting color still falls in the orange range, but varies across color systems.
Using Complementary Contrast
Purple and yellow are bold, contrasting complements on the color wheel. This makes them ideal for creating vibrant color harmony in design and art. The strong visual contrast draws attention and adds excitement. At the same time, blending the two makes pleasant, neutralized oranges and browns.
In print design, orange accents drawn from purple and yellow combinations add visual interest against a white background. Using oranges together with purple and yellow in paint textures and brushwork creates dynamic tension. In fashion, orange clothing pops against a purple and yellow backdrop. Complementary purple and yellow make versatile, adaptable secondary colors.
Examples of Purple and Yellow Color Mixing
Purple and yellow combine in nature to create many autumnal orange tones. As green chlorophyll fades in leaves, purples from anthocyanin and yellow from carotenoids mix to produce warm shades ranging from amber to oxblood red. Purple flowers like clematis or lavender also frequently have yellow stamens in the center that blend to an orange glow.
In mineralogy, the gemstone alexandrite appears purple under indoor lighting, but becomes orange outside as the blue component fades. Alexandrite contains traces of both yellow and red minerals. Purple amethyst crystals placed in yellow lemon quartz create orange zonings.
In cooking, mixing yellow turmeric and purple blueberries makes orange baked goods and sauces. Chefs also layer purple yams and yellow sweet potatoes for colorful plates. With fabrics, a yellow cotton scarf dyed purple takes on sunset orange hues. Combining purple and yellow paint makes fiesta colors for folk art and decoration.
How Light Affects the Mixed Color
The purple and yellow color combination also interacts with light to produce different effects. In light, purple pigments absorb green and yellow wavelengths, reflecting back red and blue. Yellow absorbs blue light while reflecting red and green wavelengths.
Under white light containing the full spectrum, the eye perceives the combined reflected rays as orange. But under only yellow sodium vapor lamps, the purple component appears deep blue as the yellow light is absorbed. In green neon lighting, the yellow paint takes on the green glow while purple absorbs these wavelengths, increasing the red-orange appearance.
Purple shadows cast onto yellow objects also tint the highlights orange. Illuminating purple and yellow together makes them appear more neutral and muted compared to their pure, saturated hues under white light. The lighting conditions provide another variable for fine-tuning the mixed color result.
Using Digital Tools
With traditional paint mixing, the percentages and ratios of colors added are estimated by eye. Digital color tools provide more precise control over combining shades. Photo editing and design software includes color picker tools to sample purple and yellow shades and mix them to exact specifications.
For example, adding 60% of the hex color #912ACC (purple) and 40% of #F3C13A (yellow) generates a new color swatch. Graphic design programs also enable previewing colors together on shapes to test contrast effects. Digital systems take the guesswork out of mixing custom color combinations.
Psychology of Purple, Yellow, and Orange
In color psychology, purple evokes imagination and spirituality. Yellow represents optimism and confidence. Orange combines the mystical and friendly qualities of its parent colors. Vibrant orange energizes, uplifts, and provides a sense of adventure and enthusiasm. Soft peach orange exudes warmth, approachability and feminine charm.
Pairing energetic orange accents with sophisticated purple and cheerful yellow in marketing materials, product packaging, or displays attracts attention while conveying a dynamic, friendly brand image. Orange calls viewers to action, while purple and yellow build positive emotions. This makes orange an ideal accent or call-to-action color.
Summary
Mixing complementary colors yellow and purple produces vibrant secondary oranges. The specific orange hue and intensity depends on the purple and yellow variants used and their proportions. Color temperature, shade, and lighting also alter the mix. Purple’s cool serenity blended with yellow’s cheerfulness creates warm, energetic oranges full of spirit and imagination. Experimenting with color mixing ratios provides deep insight into the possibilities of purple and yellow.
