Quick Answer
The mixture of yellow green and white typically results in a pastel or light greenish-yellow color. The specific hue will depend on the proportions of each color used. Adding more white will produce a lighter, more pastel green-yellow. Adding more yellow green will result in a deeper, more saturated greenish-yellow.
Looking at the Color Wheel
To understand color mixing, it helps to visualize colors on a color wheel. The color wheel arranges colors by hue in a circular format. Complementary colors – those opposite each other on the wheel – combine to form neutrals like white, grey or black. Adjacent colors on the wheel mix to form hues blend in between.
Yellow green sits between yellow and green on the color wheel. White is not on the wheel, as it contains no hue. But we can envision white at the center. Mixing yellow green and white involves pulling the yellow green toward the white center. This dilutes the saturation, resulting in a softer, paler pastel greenish-yellow.
The Mixing Process
When physically mixing paint colors, the proportions of each color control the final hue. Mixing equal parts yellow green and white produces a different result than mixing mostly yellow green with just a touch of white.
Here is a look at the mixing process in action:
| 75% yellow green + 25% white | Lighter greenish yellow |
| 50% yellow green + 50% white | Medium pastel greenish yellow |
| 25% yellow green + 75% white | Very pale greenish yellow |
As more white is added, the resulting color becomes lighter, closer to a pale pastel. With more yellow green, the hue remains a deeper, more saturated green-yellow.
The Math Behind Color Mixing
We can also calculate the mixture of colors numerically using RGB values. In RGB color models, red, green and blue light are combined in different proportions to create all visible colors.
Yellow green has an RGB value of #99CC00. This means it is composed of:
– Red: 153
– Green: 204
– Blue: 0
White in RGB is #FFFFFF:
– Red: 255
– Green: 255
– Blue: 255
To mix these colors, we take a weighted average of the red, green and blue components.
For example, mixing equal parts yellow green and white:
– Red: (153 + 255) / 2 = 204
– Green: (204 + 255) / 2 = 229
– Blue: (0 + 255) / 2 = 128
This averages out to RGB(204, 229, 128) – a greenish pastel yellow.
We can mix colors numerically in any proportions. More yellow green shifts the average toward yellow green’s higher green value. More white shifts the average toward white’s higher red and blue values.
Harmonious Color Combinations
Some color combinations are more aesthetically pleasing than others. Using colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel typically produce harmonious results.
Yellow green and white achieve this harmony. As adjacent colors, they share common hues that connect them. Mixing creates a smooth visual transition rather than a jarring clash.
Harmonious color schemes like analogous and triadic arrangements use colors positioned neatly around the wheel. Making color choices from harmonious schemes helps ensure color combinations that work well together.
Practical Applications
Intentionally mixing colors allows artists to achieve specific hues for their creative needs. Combining yellow green and white can produce aesthetically-pleasing, light greenish yellows ideal for:
- Soft, cheerful springtime palette colors
- Vintage pastel color schemes
- Muted earthy tones for nature scenes
- A bright, lively accent color that isn’t overpowering
This blended hue has many applications across design, fashion, interior decorating, and visual arts. The lightness added by the white makes it versatile for conveying spring, renewal, cheer, warmth, and energy without being overwhelming.
Conclusion
Mixing the colors yellow green and white results in a light greenish-yellow hue. The specific shade depends on the proportions used. More yellow green gives a deeper, more saturated color. More white gives a lighter, softer pastel yellow-green. Understanding color relationships and combinations allows artists to intentionally create specific hues to meet their creative needs. Blending yellow green and white produces a harmonious, versatile color with many applications across visual design fields and arts.