Color Palettes

Red and blue: What Color Do They Make?

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Purple

Red + blue = purple. With more red you get purple-red; with more blue, violet.

Try it in the mixerCreate a palette with this color

More shades from the same colors

Purple-red2 parts red + 1 part blueViolet1 part red + 2 parts blueLight purplepurple + whiteDark purplepurple + 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

+=Red and yellowOrange+=Blue and yellowGreen+=Red and whitePink+=Blue and whiteSky blue+=Red and greenDark brown+=Blue and orangeDark brown+=Red and blackMaroon+=Blue and greenTeal
See all color mixes →

Try this next

Name color paletteType a name and get your own color story palettePalette slot machinePull the lever and get a color paletteColor PlinkoDrop chips, bounce down the pegs, get a palette
See all free tools →

Frequently asked questions

What color do red and blue make?

Red + blue, in equal parts, make purple. With more red it leans toward purple-red, and with more blue, toward violet.

What ratio of red and blue should I use?

Half and half makes purple. 2 parts red to 1 part blue gives purple-red; 1 part red to 2 parts blue gives violet.

How do I make purple lighter or darker?

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

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.

What if I mix red and blue light?

With light, like on a screen, colors add up: red and blue make magenta.