Color Palettes

Orange and purple: What Color Do They Make?

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Reddish brown

Orange + purple = reddish brown. With more orange you get terracotta; with more purple, plum.

Try it in the mixerCreate a palette with this color

More shades from the same colors

Terracotta2 parts orange + 1 part purplePlum1 part orange + 2 parts purpleLight reddish brownreddish brown + whiteDark reddish brownreddish brown + black

If you mix with real paint

  • Start with the lighter color and add the other one little by little: the darker one usually takes over.
  • Does it look dull or muddy? One of the two contains a bit of a third color. Try purer paints.

Other color mixes

+=Yellow and purpleDark brown+=Blue and orangeDark brown+=Green and purpleBlue-gray+=Red and orangeRed-orange+=Purple and whiteLilac+=Orange and whiteApricot+=Yellow and orangeAmber+=Red and purpleRaspberry
See all color mixes →

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Name color paletteType a name and get your own color story paletteColor Scratch-OffScratch a free ticket and reveal a paletteColor aquariumA relaxing 3D aquarium in your palettes
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Frequently asked questions

What color do orange and purple make?

Orange + purple, in equal parts, make reddish brown. With more orange it leans toward terracotta, and with more purple, toward plum.

What ratio of orange and purple should I use?

Half and half makes reddish brown. 2 parts orange to 1 part purple gives terracotta; 1 part orange to 2 parts purple gives plum.

How do I make reddish brown lighter or darker?

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

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.