According to many people, to make purple paint you only need to mix red and blue paint. However, if you've tried it before, mixing the two colors doesn't always produce the purple hue you want. To create the perfect purple tones (bright, bright, and have no other hues), choose red and blue paints that don't have yellow or green pigments. These two pigments make beautiful purples look brown or gray. Now that you know how to create the perfect purple, you can customize the hue by adding more red, blue, white, or even black paint to the mix.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making the Perfect Purple Paint
Step 1. Read the label on the paint package to find out which colors contain pigments
When trying to make purple paint, yellow or green pigments are dangerous pigments. For example, if a yellow pigment is listed on a red paint label, the paint has a yellowish bias. This means that the yellow color will affect any paint you mix with the red paint.
Think about it: When you mix yellow paint with purple paint, you get brown or gray. If the yellow pigment is contained in the red or blue paint you want to use, the same thing will happen in the end
Step 2. Test the bias on red or blue paint by mixing it with white paint
When pure red paint (no yellow bias) is mixed with white paint, it will turn pink (and not peach). Meanwhile, a pure blue color that does not have a green bias will turn into a sky blue color when mixed with white.
When testing paint colors, you don't need to use a lot of paint. Just use one drop for each color to be mixed and see the results
Tips:
Clean and wipe your brush or palette knife with a paper towel before mixing other colors so you don't contaminate blue with red (or vice versa).
Step 3. Choose a paint that has no bias or yellow or green pigment
Red paint with a blue bias or blue paint with a red bias can still be used. If there is a yellow bias or tinge to the red or blue paint, you won't get the right purple. Mixing red or blue paint that has a yellow bias will actually produce a brown color. Meanwhile, a green bias or hue in the paint will make your purple paint appear grayish. Read the label and mix the paint with white to test it first to make sure you are using the right shade or color.
If you use a blue paint with a green bias and mix it with a pure red paint, you will get a dark purple hue that is close to gray, rather than a perfect purple
Step 4. Use permanent rose and ultramarine blue paint to make purple paint
Mix the two colors in equal amounts. For art connoisseurs, these two shades can produce the “perfect” purple when mixed. This color looks very similar to the purple paint you bought from the store. The permanent rose color does not have a yellow pigment, while the ultramarine blue color does not have a green tint.
Quinacridone magenta and primary magenta colors can also be used instead of permanent rose colors
Method 2 of 2: Mixing Various Purple Shades
Step 1. Make the right shades by mixing the paint a little at a time
As a general rule, add a little different shades or colors to the purple paint when you want to create a new pattern. You can easily add more paint, but it will be very difficult for you to get the original color or pattern back if you add too much of a certain color.
For example, if you add white to purple paint to lighten the color, don't add the same amount of white paint as the available purple. Apply a little paint first (approximately enough to cover the tip of the palette knife) and add more paint if necessary
Step 2. Add more blue to get a deeper purple
If you want a darker, deeper purple, use a higher amount of ultramarine blue than permanent rose. Add paint little by little. You can easily add more paint, but it will be difficult for you to "lift" the added blue once the paint is mixed.
You can also add a bit of black to your paint mix to make the colors look deeper. However, be careful because if you add too much, black can "overwhelm" the appearance of purple
Step 3. Create a warmer purple tone by adding more red
Once you've got the perfect purple, gradually add more red paint to create a brighter, warmer purple tone. Mix the paint thoroughly so that no remaining pure red or blue paint remains.
Add a little white paint to this mixture if you want to smooth out the purple look
Step 4. Mix permanent rose paint with cerulean blue paint for a deep purple color
Always use pure red paint without bias or yellow undertones. Cerulean blue paint has a slight green bias, but mixing it with permanent rose paint will produce a deep purple color with a slight gray tinge.
The more cerulean blue paint you add, the darker the purple will look
Step 5. Mix cyan and magenta to create an electric purple (neon) color
If you want a bright, striking purple, use cyan and magenta paints. Cyan has green undertones while magenta is a combination of purple and red.
The more magenta paint is added, the more pronounced the pink tones in the purple
Step 6. Add white paint to the purple paint for a lighter purple tone
The addition of white paint is a simple paint to produce sweet bright purple tones, such as amethyst, lavender, and pastel purples. Dispense a small amount of white paint onto the tip of a brush or palette knife, then mix it evenly with the purple paint.
If you have multiple shades of purple, take a look at the changes in each of the shades and colors that can result from adding white
Step 7. Use a small amount of black paint to create a darker purple tone
You can get Spanish purple, tyrian purple, old heliotrope, and other dark purple shades by adding a little black paint to the various purple shades. Black can dominate purple quickly so add a little paint at a time, and use more paint until you get the color you want.
Try This:
Create color gradients that show different shades as you mix different amounts of paint. You can use this chart or scheme when you need to create a certain pattern or color in the future.
Step 8. Change the look of store-bought purple paint with white paint to create various shades of purple
If you don't have the pure blue or red paint needed to make your own basic purple, you can use store-bought purple paint and white paint to create a variety of purple shades. Pour purple paint over the palette and gradually add white paint for lighter shades.
Feel free to experiment with other paints! While yellow will brown the purple look, there may be other colors you'd like to try mixing up. These experiments won't hurt you and you can actually learn new things as you try them
Tips
- Make enough purple paint to finish the project you're working on. It can be very difficult to match the purple hues of one mix to another. Therefore, it is better to prepare too much paint than too little.
- Learn how to mix all the paint colors to create different shades and colors for your painting projects.
