Orange and blue are two colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. When combined, they create a vibrant contrast that catches the eye. But what is this color combination actually called? The name for the blend of orange and blue is dependent on the exact shades used and the proportions they are mixed in. By exploring color theory and the physics of light, we can understand how these complementary hues interact and the different terms used to describe their fusion.
Complementary Colors
In color theory, orange and blue are considered complementary colors. This means they are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors create a strong visual contrast when placed side-by-side, making them stand out from one another. This contrast occurs because they have no hues in common.
The color wheel arranges colors by hue in a circular format. Orange sits between red and yellow, while blue falls between green and violet. Looking at the color wheel, orange is on one side, with blue located directly across from it on the other side. This opposite positioning is what makes them complements.
When complementary colors are mixed together, they have the ability to neutralize each other. This is because they contain the full spectrum of visible light between them. Red, yellow and blue are the three primary colors that all other hues are derived from. Orange contains red and yellow, while blue stands alone as a primary. Bringing these two together neutralizes the intensity of the hues.
The Physics of Light
To fully understand how orange and blue interact requires an exploration of the physics of light. The visible color spectrum that humans can see exists on a wavelength between 400-700 nanometers. Blue light has a shorter wavelength, while orange has a longer wavelength. When these wavelengths combine additively, the result is a new color our eyes perceive.
The exact shades of blue and orange will influence what this new color looks like. Mixing a deep reddish-orange with a mid-range sky blue will result in a different color than pairing a light peach-orange with a light periwinkle blue. The percentages of each shade also impact the end result.
Additionally, whether the colors mix additively or subtractively changes the outcome. On a computer screen and other light sources, orange and blue mix additively. This means their light waves combine to form new hues. But in print and paint, they mix subtractively and absorb certain wavelengths through pigments.
Shades of Brown
When blended together, orange and blue commonly mix to create various shades of brown. Brown sits between these two colors on the visible spectrum. It is made up of low intensity red, blue, and yellow light waves.
The browns produced can range from tan to mahogany depending on the orange and blue shades utilized. A brighter orange paired with a muted blue will create a light tan. But a burnt orange and dark navy blue will form a deeper espresso brown. Neutral browns are achieved by balancing the proportions of the two colors.
Adding white will push the brown closer to a beige or khaki tone. Incorporating black will turn it into more of a mud or charcoal brown. The saturation level also shifts the tone lighter or darker. Overall, brown is a natural blend when mixing most oranges and blues together.
Shades of Grey
In some cases, orange and blue will combine to create various hues of grey. This often occurs when mixing a bright orange with a bright or light blue. Since these are complementary colors, they will neutralize each other, draining the chroma and leaving behind a grey.
Different shades of orange and blue will produce grey varieties ranging from silvery whites to dark charcoals. Muted oranges and muted blues will also blend into softer neutral greys. Adding white or black paint/pigment makes the grey lighter or darker respectively.
Grey occurs when the orange and blue fully neutralize each other. Brown still contains some subtle hints of the original colors, while grey has moved closer to a true neutral. The balance of wavelengths is key to greying the resulting blend.
Shades of Purple
Purple can also occasionally result when mixing orange and blue. This typically occurs when using a red-based orange and a blue with purple undertones, like periwinkle. Rather than fully neutralizing, the frequencies combine to form a new hue similar to violet.
The resulting purples are generally muted, dusty, or desaturated tones. A vibrant orange will need to be paired with a pale purple-esque blue to avoid creating brown. Using analogous shades on the color wheel is key to blending orange and blue into purples.
Magenta can also be produced using a bright orange red and a cool indigo blue. Purple sits between these two main hues on the spectrum, allowing their wavelengths to overlap into shades of violet when combined. The percentages of each color in the mix impact how saturated the end result appears.
Shades of Green
In some rare cases, mixing orange and blue can produce greens. This generally relies on using shades that contain hints of green or yellow-green in them already. An olive orange and turquoise blue, for example, may neutralize to a muted green.
Green results when the blue used leans cyan, containing some green light waves. When combined with a yellow-tinged orange, the green wavelengths overwhelm the other hues in the mix to produce a greenish result. These outcomes are less common and require very specific shade combinations.
A lime green can also be produced by first blending a primary yellow with the blue. Since yellow and blue make green, adding a red-orange can shift the tone slightly while maintaining the green foundation. The yellow locks in the green hue.
Technical Color Names
Now that we understand how orange and blue interact, what are some technical terms used to describe their combinations? Here are some common color names for blended shades of orange and blue:
| Beige | Slate Grey |
| Taupe | Steel Grey |
| Khaki | Azure |
| Sand | Cadet Blue |
| Taupe | Pewter |
| Buff | Gunmetal |
| Fawn | Charcoal |
These names define specific shades of brown, grey, or blue-grey that occur when blending orange and blue. The name often relates to the visual qualities of the color. For example, sand references the tan tone achieved. Steel grey connects to the silvery tone from neutralizing the two colors.
Beyond precise color names, broader terms can also be used:
– Neutrals
– Browns
– Greys
– Muted blues
These terms provide a sense of the color family rather than a specific hue. The color may also simply be described by the original shades, such as “burnt orange and navy blue.” But special blended color names indicate the unifying result.
Context Dependent Names
The names used to describe a mix of orange and blue ultimately depends on the context as well. In an artistic setting, the color may be left more open to creative interpretation. Names like “autumn sunset” or “retro haziness” capture a feel rather than a fixed shade.
In fashion, the color may be named after certain style trends to capture a specific palette, like “70s chic” or “vintage rustic.” Make-up and nail polish colors also tend to have abstract creative names referring to the mood the shades evoke.
Technical industries like design, architecture, and engineering will rely more on standardized color names from established naming systems. For example, Pantone, Munsell, and Sherwin-Williams all have numeric classifications for achieving an exact mirrored color.
So in summary, while combinations of orange and blue often produce browns, greys, and neutralized hues, the descriptive names can vary greatly based on the required specificity, available color systems, and creative liberty in naming. The context guides what terminology is most meaningful and appropriate.
Conclusion
When orange and blue are blended together, they interact based on their placements as complementary colors on the color wheel. Their interaction produces shades of brown, grey, and occasionally purple or green depending on the exact hues used. Names for these resulting colors include specific technical terms like slate grey and azure as well as broader color family names. But ultimately, the appropriate descriptive name depends on the context and requirements of the situation at hand, allowing room for creativity in color nomenclature. Through an understanding of color theory and light physics, we can better understand why orange and blue meld into new muted, neutralized shades in the fascinating world of color.
