Color Palettes

Black and white: What Color Do They Make?

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Gray

Black + white = gray. With more black you get dark gray; with more white, light gray.

Try it in the mixerCreate a palette with this color

More shades from the same colors

Dark gray2 parts black + 1 part whiteLight gray1 part black + 2 parts whiteLight graygray + whiteDark graygray + black

If you mix with real paint

  • Put the white down first and add the color little by little: that way you control how light it gets.
  • For a pastel shade, use lots of white and very little color.

Other color mixes

+=Red and whitePink+=Blue and whiteSky blue+=Red and blackMaroon+=Yellow and whitePale yellow+=Green and whiteSage green+=Purple and whiteLilac+=Yellow and blackOlive+=Blue and blackBlue-gray
See all color mixes →

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Frequently asked questions

What color do black and white make?

Black + white, in equal parts, make gray. With more black it leans toward dark gray, and with more white, toward light gray.

What ratio of black and white should I use?

Half and half makes gray. 2 parts black to 1 part white gives dark gray; 1 part black to 2 parts white gives light gray.

How do I make gray lighter or darker?

Add white little by little to lighten it (light gray) or a little black to darken it (dark gray).

Is it the same with watercolor, acrylic and oil?

The result is similar. Watercolor looks lighter because the white paper shows through; acrylic gets a little darker as it dries.