Orange is a vibrant and energetic color that brings warmth and excitement to designs. But unlike primary colors, orange is a secondary color made by combining two primary colors. So what two colors make orange when mixed together? The two primary pigments that combine to create the color orange are red and yellow.
The Color Wheel
To understand how red and yellow make orange, it’s helpful to visualize colors on a color wheel. The color wheel arranges colors into a circle to show how they relate to each other. There are three primary colors – red, yellow, and blue. These are called primary colors because all other colors can be made by mixing these three colors together in different combinations.
Secondary colors like orange, green, and purple are made by mixing two primary colors. For example:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Yellow + Blue = Green
- Blue + Red = Purple
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel. For example:
- Red + Orange = Red-Orange
- Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green
- Blue + Purple = Blue-Purple
So when it comes to making the color orange, the two primary colors to mix are the ones on either side of orange on the color wheel: red and yellow.
Mixing Red and Yellow Pigments
In art and design, orange is created by mixing red and yellow pigments or dyes. Pigments refer to coloring materials like paint, ink, pastels, and more. Here’s an overview of common red and yellow pigments used to make orange:
| Red Pigments | Yellow Pigments |
|---|---|
| Cadmium red | Cadmium yellow |
| Naphthol red | Hansa yellow |
| Pyrrole red | Arylide yellow |
| Quinacridone red | Benzimidazolone yellow |
Any combination of red and yellow pigments can be blended to create different shades of orange. The specific hue that results will depend on the ratio of red to yellow used. Equal parts red and yellow will produce a pure orange halfway between the two.
Increasing the amount of red pushes the color toward a more reddish orange. Adding more yellow results in a more yellowish orange. So the possibilities for different orange shades are endless depending on how the pigments are mixed.
Light and Pigments
When working with colored light instead of pigments, such as on a computer or TV screen, the primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). This is different than pigments because light blending works through a process of addition. Combining red and green light creates yellow light.
But with pigments, the blending occurs through subtraction. A red paint absorbs every color except red, which it reflects to our eyes. Yellow paint absorbs every color except yellow. When mixed, the combination absorbs all colors except orange, which is reflected back.
So while monitors mix light to display orange using red and green, pigments rely solely on red and yellow to absorb and reflect orange when blended.
Tinting and Shading Orange
Once orange is created by mixing red and yellow, the color can be modified in a couple of ways:
- Tinting by adding white – Makes the orange lighter and brighter.
- Shading by adding black – Makes the orange darker and richer.
Adding a small amount of white or black allows you to turn the original orange into various tints and shades. For example:
| Original Orange | Tint | Shade |
|---|---|---|
| Red + Yellow | Red + Yellow + White | Red + Yellow + Black |
This helps create more variations ranging from a light peach to a deep burnt orange. The white and black preserve the orange tone while modifying the brightness and darkness.
Complementary Colors
Something else to consider when working with orange is its relationship to complementary colors. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. The complementary color of orange is blue.
When placed side-by-side, orange and blue create strong visual contrast due to their opposing positions. This can make designs really stand out. The complement of orange can also be used to shade or tone down intense orange hues in a subtle way.
Using Orange and Color Psychology
Understanding what two colors make orange allows control over the precise orange hue used in design work and art projects. But it also helps from a psychological perspective.
Different shades of orange convey different moods and emotions based on their lightness, brightness, and saturation. Lighter peachy oranges promote happiness and warmth. Vibrant reddish oranges are energetic and exciting. Darker oranges are earthy and rustic.
Here are some examples of the messages different orange shades can convey:
| Orange Hue | Color Psychology |
|---|---|
| Peach | Friendly, cheerful, nurturing |
| Orange-yellow | Optimistic, creative, youthful |
| Red-orange | Confident, courageous, determination |
| Burnt orange | Rebellious, mysterious, vintage |
So mixing up the blend of red and yellow pigments allows tailoring orange to portray a certain mood or style. Whether designing a cheerful greeting card, an elegant vintage invitation, or an abstract painting, the pigments chosen can enhance the meaning and emotion.
Conclusion
When it comes to answering “what two colors make orange”, the primary pigment combination is always red and yellow. Understanding color theory helps illustrate why these two particular primary colors mix to create orange based on the subtractive color model.
Mastering mixing red and yellow pigments in different ratios makes it possible to achieve a wide spectrum of orange shades. Modifying the orange with white for tinting or black for shading expands the possibilities even further.
But more than just combining colors arbitrarily, intentionally selecting certain shades of red and orange allows control over the psychological impression and meaning behind the orange. So not only can red and yellow make orange physically, but they can come together to make orange convey a certain mood or style as well.