What two colors make black paint?
Black paint is created by mixing together two primary colors of pigment: blue and yellow. When blue and yellow pigments are combined, they produce a secondary color – green. Adding more blue pigment will make the green darker. Adding enough blue pigment will eventually result in black paint. Therefore, the two primary color pigments that make black paint are blue and yellow.
The Basics of Mixing Paint
Paint color is controlled by pigments, which are powdered substances that provide color through selective absorption and reflection of specific wavelengths of visible light. Primary pigment colors are those that cannot be created by mixing other colors. The primary pigment colors are red, yellow, and blue.
When two primary pigment colors are mixed together, they make secondary colors. Red and yellow make orange, red and blue make violet, and blue and yellow make green.
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel. For example, red and orange make red-orange, while blue and green make blue-green.
By mixing together all three primary pigment colors (red, yellow, and blue), you get black paint. This is because each primary pigment color absorbs certain wavelengths of light, and together they absorb most of the visible light spectrum, reflecting very little back to your eyes.
However, black paint is most commonly and easily made by mixing just two primary pigment colors – blue and yellow. The reason for this is explained next.
Why Blue and Yellow Make Black
While red, yellow, and blue pigments together absorb the full visible spectrum to make black, you can get the same effect by mixing just blue and yellow pigment.
Here’s why:
– Blue pigment absorbs the warm colors – red, orange, and yellow.
– Yellow pigment absorbs the cool colors – violet, blue, and green.
Together, blue and yellow absorb the entire visible spectrum, leaving no wavelengths left to be reflected back to your eyes – resulting in black.
So two primary pigment colors are all you need to make black paint. Blue provides absorption of the warm colors, while yellow provides absorption of the cool colors.
This table summarizes the absorption and reflection of different primary pigment colors:
| Pigment Color | Absorbs Wavelengths | Reflects Wavelengths |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Green, blue | Red, orange, yellow |
| Yellow | Violet, blue, green | Red, orange, yellow |
| Blue | Red, orange, yellow | Violet, blue, green |
As you can see, blue absorbs all the warm colors while yellow absorbs all the cool colors. Together, they absorb the full visible spectrum.
How Much of Each Color to Use
So how much blue and yellow pigment do you need to mix to get black paint?
It depends on the specific pigments used, but a good starting point is a 3:1 ratio of blue to yellow.
For example, if using phthalo blue and cadmium yellow:
– Phthalo blue – 3 parts
– Cadmium yellow – 1 part
Mix the blue and yellow together thoroughly until you achieve a rich, dark black color.
The more blue pigment used relative to yellow, the darker the black will be. Adding more yellow will make the black lighter and slightly greenish.
Different blue and yellow pigment combinations will require some experimentation to find the right blend. Always start with more blue than yellow for mixing black.
Here are some common blue and yellow pigment options:
Blue pigments:
– Phthalo blue
– Ultramarine blue
– Prussian blue
– Cobalt blue
Yellow pigments:
– Cadmium yellow
– Yellow ochre
– Lemon yellow
– Hansa yellow
Aim for a deep, rich blue and an opaque, strong yellow for the best black color results. Transparent pigments make mixing black more difficult.
Tinting Black Paint
Once you’ve mixed a pure black paint from blue and yellow pigments, you can tint it to different shades:
– Add white paint to make grey tones
– Add red paint to make black with a warmer, brownish tone
– Add green paint to make black with a cooler, greenish tone
Tinting black provides darker shades of other colors. This is useful for shadow areas when painting an image.
For example, adding a small amount of phthalo blue-green shade to black makes an excellent color for shadows in nature scenes. The greenish tint harmonizes with foliage while keeping the darkness of shadows.
Here’s a quick table showing common black tints:
| Mix With Black | Tint Color Produced |
|---|---|
| White | Grey |
| Red | Warm black |
| Green | Cool black |
| Yellow | Dull black |
Tinting allows you to bias the black to suit the lighting conditions and color harmony of your painting.
Other Ways to Make Black Paint
While combining blue and yellow primary pigments is the standard way to make black, there are some other options:
– Mix blue, red, and green – Three secondary pigment colors can combine to make black, absorbing the full spectrum. Needs balanced ratios.
– Mix complementary colors – Complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) create grayish-black when mixed. For example, mix orange and blue.
– Use black pigment – Some black pigments like mars black or ivory black provide true black color. But these tend to be more opaque and have a different effect.
– Mix other dark colors – Dark browns, purples, greens can mix to make a near-black. Provides a transparent, dull effect.
– Add black drawing ink – Adding India ink or black acrylic ink to paint creates a glossy black shade. Can enhance depth.
For most purposes, sticking to phthalo blue and cadmium yellow is the best route for mixing a rich, dark black suitable for both painting and printmaking. The other methods provide unique effects but do not replicate a pure black.
Conclusion
In summary, the two primary color pigments that combine to make black paint are blue and yellow. Blue provides absorption of warm colors while yellow absorbs cool colors. Together, they absorb the full visible light spectrum.
A 3:1 ratio of blue to yellow is a good starting point, using opaque, strong pigments. Phthalo blue and cadmium yellow make an excellent pairing.
The finished black paint can be tinted to different shades by adding white, red, or green paint. But the essential mixture for true black remains blue and yellow pigment.
While other methods exist, mixing these two primary colors is the most reliable way to achieve a deep, neutral black for all painting techniques and works of art.
