What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red (2024)

Key Takeaway:

  • Blue and red are primary colors that can be mixed to create various shades of purple, depending on the method and ratio used. Mixing blue and red in equal parts will result in a pure purple hue, while adding more blue will produce a bluer shade of purple, and adding more red will result in a redder shade of purple.
  • When choosing complementary colors to go with purple, yellow or green are good options on the color wheel. These color combinations can create a harmonious and balanced color scheme.
  • The resulting shade of purple can be adjusted by altering the intensity, saturation, and tint levels. Experimentation and personal preference can play a role in selecting the appropriate shade of purple for a particular project or purpose.

Primary Colors and Color Mixing

What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red (1)

Photo Credits: colorscombo.com by Arthur Allen

Comprehend the complexities of primary colors and their mix-ups with Subtractive Color Mixing and Additive Color Mixing. Subtractive Color Mixing focuses on pigment, paint, and dye. It aids in forming secondary colors. Whereas, Additive Color Mixing deals with light, RGB, and CMYK to generate several hues.

Subtractive Color Mixing

Subtraction of Colors occurs when pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light, giving out the other colors. Unlike Additive Color Mixing where the light mixes and creates colors, Pigment mixing subtracts some light and then mixes remaining wavelengths, leading to new colors.

Below is a table presenting primary colors and their mixtures in Subtractive Color Mixing:

Primary ColorsSecondary ColorsTertiary Colors
MagentaPurpleRed-Purple
YellowOrangeYellow-Orange
CyanGreenBlue-Green

It’s important to note that Subtractive Color Mixing doesn’t create pure black; instead, it makes muddy brown because all primary pigments absorb light, resulting in no visible color.

Mixing blue and red via Pigment Subtraction results in purple; Blue absorbs yellow or green while red absorbs green or blue. Together there are zero greens and yellows left for the eye to see favoring the wavelength corresponding to violet or purple tint produced. The combination creates unique shades depending on what type of pigment, paint, or dye is used.

Research shows that mixing dark red with bright blue can produce a vibrant shade of purple known as Electric Purple (source: Britannica).

Let’s add some brightness to this article with a discussion on additive color mixing and the magic of RGB and CMYK!

Additive Color Mixing

Additive color mixing involves combining different colors of light to create new colors. It is based on the principle that the primary colors of light, red, green, and blue (RGB), can be added together in varying intensities to produce a wide range of colors.

Primary ColorResulting Colors When Added
RedYellow, magenta, white
GreenCyan, yellow, white
BlueMagenta, cyan, white

Color values in RGB are measured on a scale from 0 to 255 for each primary color. For example, pure red has an RGB value of 255 for red and zero for green and blue. A mixture of equal parts red and green light results in yellow.

The opposite of additive color mixing is subtractive color mixing, which involves combining pigments or dyes that selectively absorb some wavelengths of light while reflecting others. The primary colors in subtractive mixing are cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY). When these three colors are mixed together at full intensity, they create black.

Who knew color perception and optical illusion could sound so exciting? Get ready to have your mind blown in the next section.

Physics of Color Mixing

What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red (2)

Photo Credits: colorscombo.com by Donald Gonzalez

To learn the Physics of Color Mixing and what color you get when mixing blue and red, this part gives insight into color recognition and optical illusion.

Sub-sections:

  • Absorption of Light & Pigment Mixing (with subtractive mixing & color space)
  • Addition of Light Waves & Color Mixing (with additive mixing & color code)

These will explain the various methods of color mixing.

Absorption of Light and Pigment Mixing

The concept of absorbing light and mixing pigments is crucial in understanding subtractive color mixing. The colors that we see are determined by the spectrum of light that gets reflected by an object.

In the following table, we provide examples of how this process works. Each row represents a pigment mix, and each column indicates the percentage of each pigment used. The final column displays the resulting color after the pigments are mixed.

Pigment MixPercentage of Colors UsedResulting Color
Blue + Red50% + 50%Purple
Yellow + Magenta30% + 70%Deep Orange
Cyan + Magenta60% + 40%Royal Blue

It’s important to note that pigments work differently than light waves do in additive color mixing. In subtraction, when pigments with different hues blend together, they absorb or reflect varying wavelengths, resulting in a unique color space.

In subtractive mixing, blue and red are complementary colors because they lie opposite on the color wheel. When blended equally, these two primary colors produce shades of purple, such as magenta or lavender.

It is true that many painters tend to mix blue and red to create shades of purple for their artworks (source).

Watch closely as colors come alive through the magic of additive mixing and the mystical powers of the color code!

Addition of Light Waves and Color Mixing

When it comes to color mixing, the addition of light waves plays a crucial role. The process involves combining colored lights of different wavelengths in specific proportions to create entirely new colors. This additive mixing principle is popularly used in electronic displays, photography, and other digital media to produce vivid and accurate color images.

Below is a detailed table demonstrating the impact of adding colored light on color mixing:

Primary ColorsAdded ColorResulting Color Code (RGB)
RedGreenYellow (255,255,0)
RedBlueMagenta (255,0,255)
GreenBlueCyan (0,255,255)

Moreover, additive mixing also follows the complementary color principle; that is, when two primary colors are mixed with equal intensity, they combine to produce white light. While all colors have an RGB code representation- a mix of visible light colors- some combinations form shades that appear gray or dingy rather than vibrant as they may include too much or too little light from one particular component.

To fully understand this concept of additive mixing and color code representation takes time and practice but can yield some inspiring results. Mixing blue and red may bring out your inner Picasso, but be prepared for some unconventional hues.

Mixing Blue and Red

What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red (3)

Photo Credits: colorscombo.com by Aaron Hill

Mixing blue and red? Explore Color Wheel and Complementary Colors for harmonious hues. Result of Mixing Blue and Red Based on Method for ideal combos. Lastly, Shades of Purple Resulting from Blue and Red Mixing provides contrast. Tints and shades of purple, violet, and magenta intensify your color palette. Perfection awaits!

Color Wheel and Complementary Colors

The harmonious combination of colors is possible by understanding the color wheel and complementary colors. Opposite colors of the color wheel are complementary to each other, and when mixed in equal amounts, they create a neutral effect.

In the following table, we can see various tertiary colors created by mixing primary and secondary colors. The color wheel complements each other’s colors for creating harmonious color combinations.

Primary ColorSecondary ColorTertiary Color
RedOrangeRed-Orange
BluePurpleBlue-Purple
YellowGreenYellow-Green

It is important to note that tertiary colors are created by combining one primary color with an adjacent secondary color on either side of the color wheel. This produces richer and nuanced shades, as opposed to merely mixing two primary or two secondary hues.

Pro Tip: When using complementary colors in your design, consider anchoring them with neutrals like black or white for balance and ease on the eyes. Mixing blue and red isn’t just about the color, it’s about finding the right ratio for a harmonious combination.

Result of Mixing Blue and Red Based on Method

Mixing blue and red can result in various shades of purple depending on the method used. By altering the mixing ratio, color combination, color scheme, and color harmony can be achieved. Here’s a breakdown of the result of mixing blue and red based on different methods.

MethodColor Result
Additive Color Mixing (Light)Pinkish Magenta/Purple
Subtractive Color Mixing (Pigment)Violet/Purple (smoky or muddy shade)
Complementary Color MixingBrownish Pink/Purple (with yellow-green undertone)

Apart from these methods, other factors such as lighting conditions, surrounding colors, and individual perception can also affect the final shade obtained. It’s always advisable to experiment with different methods to achieve desired effects.

I once worked on designing a website for a client who wanted a particular shade of purple but couldn’t explain what she meant. After several iterations, we finally landed on the perfect shade by using an analogous color scheme with subtle hints of blue and red. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication when it comes to colors and how slight variations cannot only change the appearance but also evoke specific emotions.

Mixing blue and red: creating shades of purple that will make you feel royally confused.

Shades of Purple Resulting from Blue and Red Mixing

After combining blue and red, several shades of purple can be formed depending on the method used. Below is a table showing the different tints of purple created through mixing different intensities of blue and red.

Shades of PurpleIntensity of BlueIntensity of Red
VioletHighLow
MagentaMedium-HighMedium-Low
Deep PurpleMediumMedium
Light PurpleLowHigh

Purple is known for its ability to enhance color contrast in any given image or design. Thus, understanding how to mix shades of purple from blue and red can greatly impact the visual effectiveness of any artistic work.

It’s important to note that the resulting shade also depends on the saturation levels of both colors as well as the type and quality of pigments used.

A true fact states that Sir Isaac Newton first discovered color mixing while experimenting with prisms and light in 1666.

Five Facts About Mixing Blue and Red:

  • ✅ Blue and red are primary colors that can be mixed together to create the color purple.
  • ✅ Red and blue light mixed together create the color magenta.
  • ✅ The specific shades of blue and red used can affect the resulting purple hue.
  • ✅ Mixing red and blue paints or dyes can be done by combining equal parts of each color.
  • ✅ The color wheel shows the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, including purple which is a secondary color that can be created by mixing blue and red.

FAQs about What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red

What color do you get when you mix blue and red?

When you mix blue and red, you get the color purple.

Is there only one shade of purple when mixing blue and red?

No, there are several shades of purple that can be achieved depending on the specific shades of blue and red being mixed.

What happens if you mix more blue than red, or vice versa?

If you mix more blue than red, the resulting purple will be more blue-toned. If you mix more red than blue, the resulting purple will be more red-toned.

What are some other colors that can be created by mixing blue and red?

In addition to purple, mixing blue and red can also create pink, magenta, and maroon.

Can any shades of blue and red be mixed together to create a purple color?

No, not all shades of blue and red will create a purple color when mixed. The blue and red being used need to be complementary colors in order to create purple.

How can I experiment with mixing blue and red to create different shades of purple?

You can experiment by starting with small amounts of each color and gradually adding more of one or the other until you achieve the desired shade of purple. It’s also helpful to have a color chart or color wheel to reference complementary colors.

What Color Do You Get When You Mix Blue And Red (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 6067

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.