What two colors make grey when mixed together?
Grey is a neutral color that can be created by mixing complementary colors together. The two most common color pairs that make grey are blue and orange, as well as red and green. When complementary colors are mixed, they neutralize each other to create a muted, grey tone. Understanding how to mix colors to make grey is useful for artists, designers, and anyone looking to experiment with color combinations.
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The color wheel organizes colors into a circle based on their hue. Complementary colors sit directly across from each other on the color wheel. Common complementary pairs include blue and orange, red and green, and yellow and purple.
When complementary colors are mixed together, they cancel out the brightness and intensity of each other. This is because they contain light wavelengths that are opposite. Mixing these colors results in a more muted, neutralized grey tone. The combination balances out the vibrancy of the individual colors.
Mixing Blue and Orange
One of the most common color pairs that creates grey is blue and orange. Blue is considered a primary color, while orange is a secondary color. When mixed together, these opposite colors neutralize each other.
On the traditional RYB color wheel, blue sits across from orange. RYB stands for red, yellow, and blue – the primary colors on this type of color wheel. In painting, blue is created by mixing cyan and magenta pigments. Meanwhile, orange is created by mixing red and yellow.
When blue and orange paint, ink, or other pigments are blended together, the blue color cancels out the warmth of the orange. The orange removes the coolness of the blue. This mixing ultimately desaturates both colors, leaving behind a muted neutral grey.
Different shades of blue and orange can make different greys. Mixing a darker navy blue with a burnt orange will result in a darker charcoal grey. Pairing a light sky blue with a peach orange makes a softer dove grey. Adjusting the proportions of each color will also affect the grey outcome.
| Blue Shade | Orange Shade | Resulting Grey |
|---|---|---|
| Navy blue | Burnt orange | Charcoal grey |
| Sky blue | Peach orange | Dove grey |
When painting, start with small amounts of each color. Mix them together fully before adding more. Test swatches first to match the exact grey you desire. Keep layering the colors until you reach the ideal neutral shade.
Combining Red and Green
Along with blue and orange, red and green are complementary colors that blend to make grey. Red and green are directly across from one another on the traditional RYB color wheel.
Red is a primary color, while green is created by mixing blue and yellow pigments. When these opposites are blended together, they cancel out each other’s color properties. The vibrant red loses its warmth and intensity, while the cool green becomes more muted.
A bright cherry red paired with a leafy hunter green makes a brown-tinged grey. Mixing a crimson red with a forest green creates a cooler steel grey. As with blue and orange, adjusting the shades and proportions of red and green impacts the end result.
| Red Shade | Green Shade | Resulting Grey |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry red | Hunter green | Brown-grey |
| Crimson red | Forest green | Steel grey |
Start with a small amount of red and green first when mixing paint or dye. Observe how the colors change and darken. Slowly add more pigment until you get your perfect neutral grey tone. Keep a note of the ratios that produce your desired shade.
Color Theory Behind Grey
On the color wheel, grey is not represented by its own section. This is because grey is not considered a primary, secondary, or tertiary color within color theory. Instead, grey exists as a neutral tone on the spectrum with no dominating pigment.
When color theory refers to “primary colors”, this means colors that cannot be mixed from other pigments. The primary colors of the RYB wheel are red, yellow and blue. Secondary colors are made by combining two primary colors, giving us orange, green, and purple.
Grey does not fit neatly into either the primary or secondary color category. Mixing two complementary primaries together is the easiest way to create grey tones. The pigments cancel each other out, leaving the muted neutral shade behind.
Light vs. Pigment Colors
It is important to note the difference between colors of light and pigment when making grey. Red, green, and blue are the primary colors of light. This is the RGB color model used for digital screens. But paints, inks, and other physical pigments follow the RYB model with different primary colors.
While computer screens create grey from mixing red, green and blue light, pigment greys use complementary colors like blue/orange and red/green instead. This is why painters mix paint, while designers combine light wavelengths on screen. Keep this distinction in mind when working across different color mediums.
Tertiary Colors
In color theory, tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary and secondary color together. Common tertiary colors include yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green. Interestingly, mixing complementary tertiary pairs also creates grey tones.
For example, yellow-orange contains yellow (primary) and orange (secondary). Its complement is blue-purple, which contains blue (primary) and purple (secondary). When combined, these tertiary pairs neutralize each other into muted greys.
| Tertiary Color 1 | Tertiary Color 2 | Resulting Grey |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-orange | Blue-purple | Grey |
| Red-orange | Blue-green | Grey |
However, the exact resulting grey will depend on the amounts of primaries and secondaries within each tertiary mix. Play with different tertiary combinations to see the range of greys possible by blending complementary colors.
Shades of Grey
Varying the ratios of the complementary colors blended will alter the exact grey shade achieved. For instance, a greater proportion of orange over blue will lead to a warmer, brown-leaning grey. More blue over orange gives a cooler, blue-ish grey.
Equal amounts of the complement pair generally creates the most neutral grey. Though depending on the exact hues, equal mixing can still produce slightly warm or cool variations. Adjust the mix until the warmth and coolness visually cancel out into a balanced neutral.
Besides altering color proportions, using tints and shades also impacts the grey result. Adding white makes a tint, while black makes a shade. A charcoal gray becomes lighter with white to turn dove gray. Or deep blue and burnt orange can be shaded with black to become dark gray.
So in summary, the exact grey depends on:
- The complementary color pair chosen
- The proportions of each color mixed
- The specific hue/shade of each color
- Whether tints and shades are added
By adjusting these factors, artists can mix a wide range of beautiful grey tones.
Color Psychology of Grey
In color psychology, grey is associated with neutrality, balance, composure, and practicality. It is considered a conservative color, representing security, maturity, and dependability. Grey is subdued without being overly depressing or grim.
The color is often seen as elegant but also somewhat sad and lonely. It can come across as emotionally detached in design compared to vibrant tones. Dark charcoal greys may also symbolize gloom, doubt, and uncertainty.
In modern design, grey works well as a background color in a balanced palette. It creates a stable foundation when paired with small pops of color for visual interest. Too much grey can become dreary, so smart use of complementary balance is key.
Using Complementary Greys in Design
Greys made from color complements work beautifully in all types of visual arts and design. Neutral greys act as excellent background colors to contrast with brighter accents. Pairing complement greys with pop colors also creates color harmony.
For example, a blue-orange grey makes the perfect subtle wall behind a bright red couch. The red sofa pops against the neutral grey background. And since red is in the same color family as orange, it ties the scheme together.
Similarly, a red-green grey backdrop could ground a magazine layout with sparing uses of bold yellow. The grey text provides a clean, unobtrusive foundation for the yellow titles and embellishments.
Photographers also purposefully cast gray light or add grey lenses to neutralize color casts. This helps make image colors more natural and balanced in tone. Knowing how to mix and use complement greys grants artists greater control over color schemes.
Mixing Greys with Paint
When first learning to mix grey tones, painting is the easiest hands-on method. All that is required is paint and a palette for blending. Here are some tips for mixing grey with paint successfully:
– Choose two complementary colors – either primary or secondary complements work. For example, blue and orange or red and green.
– Start with very small amounts of paint – about a 1:1 ratio. Add tiny amounts of white to lighten if desired.
– Thoroughly intermix the colors to blend them. Observe as they neutralize each other to a grey.
– Slowly incorporate more paint while mixing until you reach your desired shade. Adjust ratios as needed.
– Test on a spare canvas or paper first. Mixing too vigorously can make colors muddy.
– Consider cooler blues, warmer reds, and deeper shades for richer greys. Mix tints with white.
With practice learning how colors influence each other, you can reliably create beautiful grey tones for any painting.
Mixing Digital Color for Grey
For digital design, video, and photography, colors are mixed using RGB sliders instead. But the same color theory applies – combine complements to make greys.
In Adobe software, the color picker has sliders for Red, Green, and Blue. Drag the RGB sliders towards each other so that all channels are similar. This greys out the color since the complements neutralize.
You can also use the HSB/HSL hue model. Bring the saturation down significantly until the vividness fades to grey. Then adjust the brightness and hue to get warmer or cooler grays as desired.
For photography, apply the grey mixing principles by adjusting curves, saturation, and channel mixing with Photoshop. Various photo filters also help neutralize casts and create grey tones.
Conclusion
Grey is an intriguing hue created from blending complementary colors together. Pairing blue with orange or red with green are common combinations that result in balanced, muted greys through canceling each other out. Painters can manually mix greys, while digital work mixes RGB light. Varying the color ratios and properties alters the final grey shade achieved. When used purposefully, neutral greys add sophisticated contrast and harmony to any creative project. Understanding how to mix this versatile color opens many possibilities.
