How to get colors: black, blue, red. How to get black from paints

Mixing colors is one of the most difficult procedures that a person who decides to make repairs on their own may face the need to perform. The point is that it is very important to know what colors to mix to create a certain tone. It should be immediately noted that it is better to purchase white paint and tint it in a store using a special machine, so the tone will be uniform. If you decide to do everything yourself, then you can read more about how to mix colors correctly.

These materials are universal, they are used for many purposes: with their help you can simply paint walls, paint stained glass windows, apply designs on the wall and ceiling. In general, the scope of their use is limited by imagination. The compositions are easy to use and adhere well to the surface. But if you decide to paint a multi-component image on the wall, then buying paint of all required colors will be too expensive, and after completion of the work there will be a large amount of unnecessary material left. In this case, it is better to buy a basic series, and to create certain shades, mix acrylic paints.


Mixing base paint colors allows you to get a variety of different shades, and you can save a lot on your purchase

Main color range

Everyone knows from school: when you combine yellow and red, you get orange, but if you add blue to the same yellow, you get green. It is on this principle that the table for mixing acrylic paints is built. According to it, it is enough to purchase only the primary colors:

  • white;
  • black;
  • red;
  • brown;
  • blue;
  • yellow;
  • pink.

You can just mix acrylic paints these tones to obtain the majority of existing shades.

Basics of mixing according to the table

To properly mix materials, you cannot do without a table. At first glance, it is easy to work with: to get the desired result, you just need to find the color and see what components are required. But the color mixing table does not indicate the proportions, so it is necessary to gradually add tinting material to the base paint and apply the mixture to some unnecessary product: a sheet of plywood, drywall, and so on. Then you need to wait until the material dries. If the color matches what is required, you can begin work on the main surface.

Coloring technique

Now about how to get colors. By mixing acrylic materials, you can achieve the formation of two main tones: light and dark. Basic tones: earthy, green, orange, purple. To create color, it is recommended to follow certain rules:

  1. Light. In this case, the main material is titanium white, to which one or two tinting compounds are added. The less additional paintwork materials are used, the lighter the tone will be. This is how you can make most shades of a light palette.
  2. Dark. To create shades of this type, do the opposite. Before mixing colors, you need to prepare the base tone; black dye is gradually introduced into the base. When working with black paint, you need to be careful because it can make the color look muddy rather than dark.
  3. Green. This shade is not in the main palette, so you will need to mix yellow and blue. The exact ratio can only be determined experimentally.
  4. Violet. This is a cool color that is obtained by mixing blue with pink or red. In some cases, you will also need to add black to darken the material.
  5. Orange. To create this color you need to mix red and yellow. For a richer orange, it is recommended to add more red and vice versa. If you want to create a soft color, for example, coral, then you need to lighten the material with white. Can I add dark dyes? Yes, you can, but mixing colors may result in a muddy tone.
  6. Earthy. Here the main color is brown. By adding various shades to it, they get a color from beige to dark wood.

Rules for working with the palette

To get started, you will need a basic set of paints, brushes, a container of water and a palette (you can take any surface, including school supplies for drawing).

It is recommended to place white in the center, since it is used in creating most shades. Dyes of the main color range are placed in the recesses around (if any). You need to mix carefully, gradually adding tinting material and constantly checking the result. After mixing the colors, the brush should be rinsed in a container of water.

On a note! Working with materials based on acrylic resins using a table and palette is quite simple. The main thing is to practice more, the result will get better each time.

Oil paints

If you compare this material with watercolor or acrylic, then oil is more fluid. Because of this, you need to mix compositions of different colors very carefully. On the one hand, this is a drawback, but on the other hand, this feature allows you to obtain the following effects:

  • Providing thorough mixing, a uniform tone will be obtained. This material is perfect for both complete painting of surfaces and partial decoration.
  • If you mix partially, then different colored veins will appear on the coating.

Mixing

Now about how to mix oil paints. For mixing paint colors on oil based a table is also used. It indicates the colors obtained by combining various tinting components. In addition, here you can find such an indicator as a combination of shine. If you add a little gloss to a matte base, there will be practically no result, but if you do the opposite, the shine will be slightly muted.

Mixing methods:

  1. Mechanical. In this case we're talking about about mixing two or more different-colored materials in one container. Color saturation is controlled by the number of compositions of bright shades. The desired color is created even before the wall or ceiling is processed.
  2. Color overlay. Gradual application of several strokes on top of each other.
  3. Optic. This is the most complex method, which is available only to specialists. It involves mixing glossy and matte bases while applying paint to the surface. You can mix paint colors only on the surface being treated, otherwise you will get a more even tone.

Peculiarities

The first method fully corresponds to the data in the table. When it comes to color application, the result is unpredictable. One of the most simple options optical illusions is glazing: a dark tone is applied to the surface, after it dries, paint is applied a little lighter, and then completely light. As a result, each color will be visible through the top layers.

So there is no specific pattern. To find out which colors need to be mixed, it is not enough just to take and look at the table; it is important to constantly practice and not be afraid of experiments. This way you can create a new effect that will make the interior unique. It is also important to remember that a mixed shade is very difficult to replicate, so you should remember the proportions.

Now the question of how to mix paints correctly does not seem so difficult.

In this article we will look at what needs to be mixed to get Brown color in colors.

Such a noble and calm color as brown has always dominated the clothing of rich and noble representatives. By the way, its main characteristic is stability and stability. But often the palette does not have this color or its required shade. Yes, and young or even experienced artists must be able to select correct colors to create your own color scheme brown spectrum. And our recommendations will help in this aspect.

How to get brown color when mixing: 3 ways

Before rushing to the color scheme and brushes, you need to remember what colors there are. They are divided into two groups – basic and additional. There are also two more subgroups - composite and complex. All of them make up the design of four groups of basic colors.

Remember - primary colors cannot be obtained by combining any palettes. By the way, they are the ones that become the basis for creating other colors. Moreover, having black and white on hand, you can extract absolutely any color.

IMPORTANT: Brown belongs to the group of complex colors.

We offer three basic methods for obtaining brown color.

Green (blue+yellow) with red

  • Even schoolchildren know that brown comes out when you mix two colors together - green and red. This is the case if we talk about the primary and composite colors.
  • But the challenge is still to create a green tint. As easy as pie! Take two primary colors - yellow and blue.
  • You need to take an equal amount various shades. But take into account your wishes.
    • If you want to end up with a darker color, then add a little more blue, but to the finished green color.
    • If, on the contrary, you want to make a more transparent shade, then initially take a little more yellow.
  • After receiving the secondary color, we begin making the tertiary color. To the green color you got, you need to add a little red tone.
  • It is important to introduce red paint, and not vice versa! After all, it is the fundamental tone that regulates the degree of darkness and saturation brown tint. If you add too much red coloring, then you will get more of a brick tone.
    • But also keep in mind that the red color makes brown so warm (in large quantities it can even create a rust effect), but green, on the contrary, will make it even a little grayish and cold.

Orange (yellow+red) with blue

  • The first thing you need to do is take red. And add yellow to it. By the way, it needs to be introduced gradually and in small quantities.
  • On average, yellow should be only 10% of the volume of red. It's important to get a dark orange. But keep in mind that too much red coloring will create a reddish brown color.
  • Blue paint will need even less - 5-7% of the total volume. You also need to add gradually, in small portions and stirring the ingredients well.
  • Of course, adjust the tone and saturation of the brown color using the blue tint.

Violet (red+blue) with yellow

  • Red and blue colors should be taken in equal quantities. Then you can get a noble and even royal shade purple, which will have the desired richness and warmth.
  • Then, you need to introduce yellow color little by little. It will lighten the resulting purple, so watch the amount. If the color is predominantly yellow, then the brown color will be lighter and warmer. The violet tone does the opposite.

IMPORTANT: Too much yellow paint will create an ocher shade.

How to make a light brown color from paints, gouache when mixed?

To get a light brown color, you need to give the yellow color a predominance. But! Let us repeat that too much of it will make the color look like ocher. And, of course, it all depends on the desired lordship.

  • To whiten brown color, you need add white. Yes, it's that simple. The more you add, the lighter the final color will be.
  • But don't overdo it, brown is a warm color and white will neutralize this characteristic. Therefore, introduce very carefully, gradually and in small portions (literally, 1% of the total mass of paints).
  • Although adding the previous color will help correct the situation.

How to get a dark brown color when mixing paints and gouache?

If we talk about previous mixing options, more blue or green will make a darker brown. But they will also add their own nuance. There is another, simpler and faster way to get a dark brown color.

  • Just add black paint. But you need to work with it extremely carefully, since a small dose of excess paint will simply turn it into black.
  • Therefore, add paint in tiny portions and take note of one rule - conduct experiments with a small amount of paint.


  • By the way, so as not to make a mistake with in the right color, mix a little black with white. But leave the dominance of the first shade. Just make it a little softer as it can quickly eat up the brown color.

How to get chocolate when mixing paints or gouache?

To create a chocolate color, you need to tinker a little. The most unencumbered scheme is to choose the right tones of orange and blue. But there is another possible option.

  • Combine yellow and blue paint to get a dark green color. In another bowl, combine red and a drop of yellow to create orange.
  • Now combine the two resulting colors. And in the end you get the color of green grass or grass green.
  • Now you need to create a bloody red color. To do this, combine the same orange and red palette.


  • In conclusion, it remains to combine the two complex colors obtained.
  • And as a result we get the color of real chocolate.
    • If you want milk chocolate then add a drop of white paint
    • A mixture of white and yellow will give an additional golden tint to the color
    • Dark chocolate is again obtained by adding black paint.
    • But yellow with chocolate will help you get a beautiful and even brown color

How to get coffee color when mixing paints or gouache?

  • Coffee color can be obtained by adding the same black gouache. Also, you need to mix according to technology - orange paint plus Blue colour. In this case, you can achieve the desired tone.


Getting coffee color
  • Alternatively, you can achieve the desired color using a composition of purple and orange paint. If necessary, you need to add a drop of black tint.

Color mixing: table

For a clearer understanding, we would like to provide you with a table that will show all possible versions removal of brown color and its range. To get a brown color, you need to mix the component colors, adding the main shade to them. True, there are other options where the composition includes not just secondary colors, but even complex palettes.

Black is an achromatic shade that completely absorbs all colors. In other words, black color indicates the absence of luminous flux as such. Black color is the opposite of white color, which reflects the radiation falling on it. Black color, on the contrary, absorbs it. There is no absolute black color in the world. However, material has already been found that is as close as possible to it. It's called Vantablack. As of 2014, this particular substance was named the blackest on the planet. It absorbs 99.965% of the radiation incident on it, which means not only light itself, but also radio waves and microwaves. Now we’ll talk about how to get the most black color possible and what you need for this.

What colors to mix to get black?

There are several ways to obtain black. The first one is mixing green and red. As already mentioned, it is almost impossible to achieve a completely black color, but using this method you can get a color that is as close to a black shade as possible. If you want to get a more saturated black color, then you can try the following method - using a subtractive scheme. To do this, tediously mix purple, cyan and yellow. These colors are called primary. Blue and purple colors have another name - cyan, magenta. You can mix oil, watercolor or acrylic paints.

How to get a shade of black

In addition to the classic black color, there are also its shades, with which you can add originality to your work. In order to consider this issue, let's plunge into history and look at what shades of black existed before and which of them are common in our time. Previously, the following shades of black existed:

  • Slate shade. It is black and gray in color.
  • Anthracite black shade. This is a very rich black color with shine.
  • Karamazy shade.
  • Klushi.
  • A shade of oxblood. It is a black color mixed with red.
  • Bardadym.

Currently, other shades of black are used. With different proportions of paint used, black may turn out to be bluish, brown and other shades. Moreover, by adding white to the already obtained paint, you can achieve one or another shade of black. Let's look at several shades of black, and also tell you how you can get them.

  • Soft shade of black. To get this shade you need to mix turquoise, pink and yellow. You can also add a little white to the already obtained black paint.
  • Medium black shade. This color will have much more black tint than a soft shade of black. To obtain it, you need to mix pink, ultramarine and light yellow.
  • Rich black color. This color of black can be obtained not only by mixing the three primary chromatic colors. To obtain it, you can mix red, yellow and blue paint.
  • Blue-black shade. It can be obtained by mixing brown and dark blue paint.

If, when you receive a particular shade, the color does not suit you, then you can add red, yellow or blue paint to it.

To achieve a black paint color, you will have to work hard when mixing colors, since you need to add paints in certain proportions. However, in the future it will be much easier to do this, since you will already have a lot of experience in mixing colors.


Black and white colors considered a virtual absence of color. Therefore, to the question of how to get black, you can answer that it is only possible to get a color close to it by mixing several.

For an artist, this color means the darkest, and for scientists, it means the absence of color. Black is an achromatic shade that absorbs all light. In terms of absorption of light flux, it is opposite to white, which completely reflects the light and radiation incident on it. IN natural environment There is a material close to it in tone - this is dark Vantablack carbon, which absorbs 99.96% of incident light and other radiation.

Even during the Renaissance, masters of painting tried to obtain black paint and concluded that it was impossible to do this from other paints. Therefore, they used burnt bones, from the soot of which they made a matte black paint.

Today, black paint is made industrially from natural carbon pigments such as graphite and carbon black.

In practice, 2 main color models are used:

  • RGB- additive, which is based on the superposition of rays reflected from the surfaces of objects. It is used in computer monitors and contains the main colors: R-red, G-green, B-blue. The remaining colors and shades are obtained by overlay.
  • CMYK- subtractive model, which is based on the physical mixing of pigments, with white being the absence of color, and pure black obtained by mixing cyan (C-cyan), magenta (M-magenta) and yellow (Yellow) tones, K (key color) - key. This system is used in the printing industry and printing on printers.

What colors should I mix?

To get a black color close to ideal, you can go by mixing paints of the following colors:

  • Red and green– the resulting tone will be close to the desired one (in fact, it turns out to be very dark, and if you look closely, it’s not quite ideal).
  • Blue, yellow and red– if you take these 3 primary colors, then mixing them will also allow you to get a fairly rich color scheme.
  • D additional colors (brown, purple, blue)– you need to mix them in small quantities, then you will get an approximate color.

You can use any paints intended for painting or household purposes for mixing: acrylic, gouache, watercolor and oil. If there is no ready-made dye of a classic tone, then there are a lot of options on how to make black paint from others.

To get a pure color you will have to work hard and choose required proportions, gradually adding different colors.

On the video: what colors to mix to get black.

There are many shades, slightly different from classic black, that will allow the artist to add originality to his work. Historically, the following shades have developed:

  • Slate - Essentially a dark grey, the name comes from the slate slate that was previously used in blackboards.
  • Karamazy – synonyms for “dark-haired”, “dark-skinned”.
  • Anthracite - strong saturated color with some shine.
  • Oxblood is a black and red color.
  • Bardadym is the name of the king of black suit in the game of cards.

Modern shades of black differ from those used previously:

  • Soft black - to obtain it you need to mix the following colors: turquoise, pink and yellow colors, sometimes they also add a little white.
  • Medium - pink, ultramarine and light yellow paints are mixed for it.
  • Rich color It is possible to make not only from three primary colors (chromatic), but also using red, yellow and blue.
  • Blue-black - obtained by mixing brown and dark blue.

Many shades of dark and light gray can be made by experimenting with adding white paint or adding a little water at a time. Experience will show you what colors and shades you get.

Extremely individual and depends on how human eye perceives rays reflected from various surfaces. There are surfaces that do not reflect rays, but absorb them. When absorbed, a person sees. This is why black is called a “dead” color or “lack of color.”

Therefore, the answer to the question of how to get black from paints is the following: true black cannot be obtained by mixing any other shades of the spectrum. However, it is possible to create very dark shades that, when contrasted with others, create the feeling of black. To find out what paints need to be mixed to get black, you should turn to the theory of art and the psychology of color perception.

Color models and color synthesis

There are two models of color synthesis, that is, obtaining new colors and shades.

Additive - a model for producing color based on adding and superimposing rays reflected from the surfaces of objects. This model is used in monitors and screens, its main color range is RGB. Additive color synthesis is based on three main lights: red, green and blue. By superimposing and mixing these rays, all other shades except black are formed. In this model, black is considered to be the complete absence of reflection.

Subtractive - a model based on mixing physical pigments and paints. In it, white is considered the absence of color. And black is obtained by mixing all the main shades. So what colors do you need to mix to get black? In the subtractive model, the primary (or main) hues are magenta, cyan and yellow.

Subtractive mixing method

Compared to additive color synthesis, the subtractive model produces fewer shades. In addition, the theoretical or mathematical model of subtractive synthesis is fundamentally different from what is obtained in practice. For example, theoretically, mixing three primary colors should produce black. However, in practice this color comes out very dark brown.

The subtractive method is used in printing and printing, where it is very important to achieve true black color. In order to get it, a “key” color is added to the three main colors. This is where the name of the main range of the subtractive model comes from - CMYK, where C is cyan (cyan, in Russian it is called blue or greenish-blue), M is magenta (a shade of purple), Y is yellow, and K is key color (key color). In this range, natural black is key. Asking the question of how to obtain black from paints of the chromatic spectrum, printers realized that not a single shade obtained could replace natural black.

Three primary colors

According to the theory of art by Johannes Itten, there are three primary colors, when mixed, all other colors of the spectrum are obtained. Itten identified red, yellow and blue as the main ones. Subsequent theories determined that the ideal primary colors were magenta, cyan, and yellow. These are what are called primary colors - colors that reflect a larger spectrum and which cannot be obtained by combining other shades.

In fact, red and blue are not primary. They absorb more light than they reflect, but despite this, they are still often called primary colors and are used to create the rest of the color wheel.

Note: White and black are not included in the spectrum and are called achromatic. How to get black from paints has always varied and depended on the variety of existing this moment theories.

Pure colors

According to early theory, the pure colors were red, blue, yellow and green. It was believed that they could not be obtained by mixing other shades. Later, with the development of technology, it turned out that the three primary colors that cannot be obtained are purple, cyan and yellow.

Modern color theory distinguishes three primary, three secondary chromatic and one achromatic - black. What paints to mix to get black varies. Everything from mixing primary hues to mixing red, blue and yellow, or even red and green works in comparison.

Secondary colors are green, blue and red. Green is obtained by mixing yellow with greenish-blue. Magenta and cyan make blue. And by mixing magenta with yellow, you can get red.

In theory, the question of how to make black from paints is solved by mixing the three primary colors in their ideal shades. These are cyan, magenta and yellow. However, it is practically impossible to achieve perfect black by combining others. Natural black color is used in typography and painting.

Natural black

Black is actually the absence of color. The more light rays an object's surface absorbs, the darker it appears. There is no absolute black color in nature, but the darkest Vantablack carbon comes as close as possible to 100% light absorption; it reflects only 0.035% of rays.

The main natural pigments from which black paint is made are carbons. Among them, the main ones are graphite and soot. Even at the dawn of painting, artists thought about what paints needed to be mixed to get black, and came to the conclusion that black could not be achieved. During times High Renaissance painters extracted black from burnt bone. It was the darkest available during the Renaissance.

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