When you mix the colors red and blue, what color do you get? This is a question that many children learn growing up, either in art class mixing paints, or seeing the results of mixing different colored objects together. Though it may seem straightforward, the answer provides an important basis for understanding how color works and the fundamentals of color theory. In this article, we’ll explore the science and principles behind what happens when you combine the primary colors red and blue.
Blue + red = purple. Red + yellow = orange…etc. Step 2: To get purple, I use more red than blue. Depending on the end color that you’re going for, you’ll have to test amounts.
The Significance and Symbolism of Purple
Beyond its basic color theory origins, the mixing of primary red and blue to create purple has taken on cultural meaning over time. Here are some of the symbolic associations of the color purple:
– Royalty – For centuries, purple dye was very expensive to produce, so only royalty could afford to wear the color. It became associated with kings, queens, emperors and nobles.
– Luxury – The difficulty of recreating purple historically also gave it an air of luxury. The rich, saturated shades were a mark of wealth and status.
– Mysticism – As the bridge between warm and cool colors, purple took on meanings of otherworldliness, spiritualism and mystery.
– Creativity – In color psychology, purple is connected to imagination and creative thought. It bridges red’s passionate energy with blue’s focused contemplation.
– Wisdom – Purple’s association with intuition and higher purpose lends meaning related to wisdom, insight and visionary ideas.
– Ambition – At the same time, purple relates to ambitious pursuits, due to its royal and luxurious connections.
– Magic – Purple is strongly tied to the supernatural and mysticism in many stories and films, such as magical curses, psychic energy, and spiritual dimensions.
So while the technical mixing of primary red and blue makes purple, the color carries deep cultural symbolism and psychology too.
Mixing Red and Blue with Other Colors
We’ve looked closely at what happens when you combine the primaries red and blue alone. But you can also mix these colors with others to create new results:
– Red + Blue + Yellow – Combining all 3 primary colors makes black (subtractive mixing) or white (additive mixing).
– Red + Yellow – Mixing these primaries makes orange. Adding blue makes orange less intense.
– Blue + Yellow – These primaries blend to make green. Adding red dulls the green.
– Red + White – Adding white to red makes pink. More white creates lighter tints.
– Blue + White – With white, blue becomes lighter sky blue tints.
– Purple + Yellow – Blending purple and yellow results in various brown tones.
The quantity of each color and interactions between them continue building out the spectrum of possible color mixes. Mastering color combinations takes exploration and practice mixing paints, light or pigments.
Mixing Red And Blue – What Color Make Red And Blue – Mix Acrylic Colors
FAQ
What happens if I mix red and blue hair dye?
What color do you get when you mix blue and red?
Does blue dye cancel out red dye?
What does blue and red hair dye make?
What happens if you mix red and blue?
The problem with mixing colors today is that there are so many variations of red and blue. Some reds and blues make a perfect purple when mixed together. Others create a dark, gross-looking color that’s far from what you expected.
What color if you mix red and blue?
You’ll usually get purple when you mix red and blue. But with certain color combinations, you’ll create a different result. And that comes down to which shades of red and blue you choose. If you mix red and blue with a yellow undertone, you could end up with the color brown. That’s because brown results when you mix all three primary colors.
What color is produced when blue and red are mixed?
When blue and red colors are mixed, the color produced is purple. Purple is a secondary color created by mixing an equal ratio of two primary colors (blue and red). Purple is generally a cool color that has many shades, such as violet, lavender, lilac, mauve, or amethyst. Furthermore, purple is situated between blue and red on the color wheel.
What happens if you mix red and blue lights together?
If you’re mixing red and blue lights together, the result is no longer purple. In this scenario, red and blue make magenta. Blue and red are still primary colors for lighting, but the mixture of colors that our eyes see is slightly different from paint mixtures.