What Colors Make Blue?
Blue is a primary color and cannot be mixed from other colors in traditional pigment painting. However, blue is used to create: blue + yellow = green, blue + red = purple.
Blue is a Primary Color
Blue is a primary color in the traditional RYB (paint) color model. Primary colors are the foundation of all color mixing — they cannot be created by mixing other colors together. You need blue pigment directly.
Paint & Pigment Mixing (RYB)
Blue is a primary color in the RYB (pigment) model — it cannot be mixed from other colors. You must use blue pigment directly. Common blue pigments: phthalo blue (cool, vivid), ultramarine blue (warm, violet-biased), cerulean blue (soft, sky-like), Prussian blue (dark, greenish).
Digital Color (RGB)
In RGB, blue is a primary light color. Pure blue = rgb(0, 0, 255) / #0000FF. In CMYK printing, blue is approximated using Cyan + Magenta.
Shades of Blue
Blue spans a remarkable spectrum — from deep navy blue and rich cobalt blue to soft sky blue, powder blue, cerulean, and indigo. Each shade has a distinct character and a different recipe.
Color Theory: Understanding Blue
Blue is a primary color in the traditional RYB (Red-Yellow-Blue) paint model, meaning it cannot be mixed from other pigments. It sits on the cool side of the color wheel, between violet and green. Its complementary color — directly opposite on the wheel — is orange, which is why orange and blue neutralize each other to produce brown.
In the additive RGB model used for screens, blue is also a primary color: pure blue = rgb(0, 0, 255). In CMYK printing, blue is approximated using Cyan and Magenta inks at high concentrations.
Analogous colors to blue are those adjacent on the wheel: blue-green (teal/cyan) and blue-violet (indigo/violet). Triadic partners are red and yellow. Blue is widely considered the most universally calming and trusted color in design psychology.
Warm vs. Cool Blues
Even within blue, there is a significant temperature range. Warm blues lean toward violet — ultramarine blue has a violet/red undertone. Cool blues lean toward green — phthalo blue, cerulean, and Prussian blue all have green undertones. This matters enormously for mixing: ultramarine + cadmium yellow produces a muted, earthy green because both share hidden red tones. Phthalo blue + lemon yellow makes a vivid, clean, bright green.
Why Does My Blue Look Muddy?
The fastest way to ruin a blue is mixing it with orange — even trace amounts of orange-biased pigments (cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, raw umber) will grey and dull it. To darken blue without killing its vibrancy, use Prussian blue or dark indigo — never black alone, which makes blue look cold and flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors make blue?
Blue is a primary color in the RYB pigment model — it cannot be created by mixing other colors.
What does blue make when mixed with other colors?
Blue + Yellow = Green. Blue + Red = Purple. Blue + White = Light blue. Blue + Orange = Brown.
What colors make navy blue?
Mix blue with a small amount of black. Adding a tiny touch of purple or dark indigo gives a richer, more nuanced navy.
What colors make sky blue?
Mix blue with a generous amount of white and a tiny touch of green for a bright, airy sky blue.
What colors make royal blue?
Start with pure blue and add a small amount of white. A hint of purple makes it richer and more jewel-toned.
What colors make light blue?
Mix blue with white. The more white, the lighter and softer the blue. A touch of green adds a tropical, aqua quality.
What colors make dark blue?
Add black or dark indigo to blue to deepen it. Use dark indigo rather than black to keep the hue vivid and avoid a flat, lifeless result.
Blue and yellow make what color?
Blue and yellow make green when mixed in paint.
Blue and red make what color?
Blue and red make purple. More blue gives a cooler violet-blue; more red gives a warmer, reddish purple.