What Colors Make Red? Mixing Guide for Every Shade
No two colors make red in traditional painting, because red is one of the three primary colors along with yellow and blue. In modern paint and in CMYK printing you can make red by mixing magenta and yellow. On screens, red is a primary color of light, so it is shown directly rather than mixed.
The short answer
| Medium | Can you mix red? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Paint (RYB) | No | Red is a primary. Start with a red pigment, then adjust it. |
| Modern paint (CMY) | Yes | Magenta + yellow |
| Print (CMYK) | Yes | Magenta 100% + yellow 90 to 100% |
| Screens (RGB) | No | Red is a primary light: rgb(255, 0, 0) |
From a base red you can mix every shade: add white for coral and pink, blue for crimson, black or green for maroon and dark red, and orange or yellow for scarlet. The recipes are below.
Why red can't be mixed in paint
In the red, yellow and blue (RYB) system taught in art classes, the three primaries can't be made from each other. Yellow and blue make green, never red.
Printers and many painters use cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) instead, because those three mix a wider range of clean colors. In CMY, red is a secondary color made from magenta and yellow.
What two colors make red?
Magenta and yellow make red. Use a true magenta (such as quinacridone magenta) and a bright yellow. Equal amounts give a strong red. More magenta pushes it toward crimson and raspberry. More yellow pushes it toward scarlet and red-orange.
- Magenta + yellow (1:1) = bright red
- Magenta + a little yellow = crimson
- Yellow + a little magenta = scarlet and red-orange
In print, a bright red is roughly C0 M100 Y100 K0. Many printers pull yellow back to about 90% for a slightly cooler red. Press, paper and profile all change the result, so treat these as starting points. See what is CMYK.
What do red and green make?
Red and green make brown in paint. They are complementary colors, so they cancel each other's brightness and produce a muddy brown or dark neutral. Mostly red gives a reddish brown, and mostly green gives an olive brown. See what colors make brown.
On screens, red and green light make yellow. rgb(255, 0, 0) + rgb(0, 255, 0) = rgb(255, 255, 0), which is #FFFF00. This surprises many people, and it is why every yellow on a screen is really red and green subpixels together.
What do red and blue make?
Red and blue make purple in paint and magenta in light (#FF00FF). For a clean purple, use a cool red like crimson rather than an orange-leaning red. The full guide is what colors make purple.
What do red and yellow make?
Red and yellow make orange. More red gives red-orange and vermilion, and more yellow gives amber and tangerine. See what colors make orange.
What do red and white make?
Red and white make pink. A little white gives rose and coral tones, and a lot of white gives pale pink. See what colors make pink.
How to mix shades of red
Start from a mid red (or magenta plus yellow) and add the second color in small amounts. Reds shift fast, so test each step on scrap paper.
How to make crimson
Add a small amount of blue or magenta to red. Crimson is a cool, slightly blue red. Target: #DC143C.
How to make dark red
Add a tiny amount of green (red's complement) or black. Green keeps the red rich, while black can make it look dull. Target: #8B0000.
How to make maroon
Mix red with a little brown, or with a touch of green and black. Maroon is a dark, brownish red. Target: #800000.
How to make burgundy
Add a small amount of purple or blue to red, then darken with a touch of black. Burgundy leans purple where maroon leans brown. Target: #800020.
How to make brick red
Mix red with a little orange and a small amount of brown or black. Target: #B22222 (CSS firebrick).
How to make scarlet
Add a small amount of orange or yellow to a bright red. Target: #FF2400.
How to make cherry red
Use a bright red with a touch of magenta and a very small amount of black. Target: #D2042D.
How to make coral
Mix red with white and a little orange or yellow. Target: #FF7F50.
How to make light red
Add a small amount of white to red. Too much white turns it pink. Target: #FF6B6B.
Red mixing cheat sheet
| Shade | Paint recipe | HEX | RGB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson | Red + touch of blue or magenta | #DC143C | 220, 20, 60 |
| Dark red | Red + tiny green or black | #8B0000 | 139, 0, 0 |
| Maroon | Red + brown, or red + green + black | #800000 | 128, 0, 0 |
| Burgundy | Red + purple + touch of black | #800020 | 128, 0, 32 |
| Brick red | Red + orange + brown | #B22222 | 178, 34, 34 |
| Scarlet | Red + a little orange or yellow | #FF2400 | 255, 36, 0 |
| Cherry red | Red + magenta + tiny black | #D2042D | 210, 4, 45 |
| Coral | Red + white + orange | #FF7F50 | 255, 127, 80 |
| Light red | Red + a little white | #FF6B6B | 255, 107, 107 |
Paste any of these into the color converter for CMYK and HSL values, or into HEX to Pantone for the closest Pantone red.
Why your red mix goes wrong
- It turns brown. Green or blue-green crept into the mix. Clean your brush and keep complements apart.
- It turns pink instead of lighter red. White makes tints, which read as pink. For a lighter red that stays red, add a little yellow or orange instead.
- It looks flat when darkened. Black dulls red. Use a little green, blue or brown.
- Your magenta and yellow make orange. The yellow is too strong. Add magenta until the orange shifts to red.
Test recipes in the color mixer before you mix paint.
FAQ
What two colors make red?
Magenta and yellow make red in modern paint and in CMYK printing. In traditional red, yellow and blue painting, red is a primary and can't be mixed.
What color do red and green make?
In paint, red and green make brown. In light, red and green make yellow, #FFFF00.
What color does red and blue make?
Red and blue make purple in paint and magenta in light.
What colors make red in light?
None. Red is a primary color of light, shown directly as rgb(255, 0, 0).
How do you make dark red paint?
Add a small amount of green, blue or brown to red. Black also works, but it can make the red look dull.
What colors make maroon?
Red plus a little brown makes maroon. Red with a touch of green and black also works.
What colors make burgundy?
Red plus a small amount of purple or blue, darkened with a touch of black, makes burgundy.