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Looking for color mixing information

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Steilacoom, Washington
Looking for color mixing information
Posted by Killjoy on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 9:07 PM

Hello all!

I am looking for any information on mixing the colors sold by various manufacturers.  Aren't most colors simply the basic colors mixed in specific ratios?

For example, If I have golden's acrylic airbrush line, basic blue, red, white, black, green, etc..can I make most of the colors (interior green, khaki, olive drab)?

Any help would be appreciated!

Chris

A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:46 AM

Black & yellow make olive.   Black & white make gray.   Red & green make brown.  ...

You can get to most colors with just the three primary colors; red, yellow, blue;  plus black and white.   The pigment ratio in many commercial paints is proprietary information. 

If some semblence of accuracy of your colors using just your basic set is your final goal,  you will need to get a set of reference chips, like the Fed_Std_595 series and you will need to experiment.   Keep notes,  so many drops of one color to so many of another make what?

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Steilacoom, Washington
Posted by Killjoy on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:20 PM
Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought.  I was HOPING someone might have already done this, and possibly posted the results.

A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

  • Member since
    November 2012
Posted by dioramator on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:04 PM

the pigments used in coloured paints are not "pure colours". (Magenta, Cyan, pure yellow)

you will find by mixing the paints, certain colours in the spectrum cannot be achieved.
mixes will usually come out dirty, or milky.

I find it easier to buy the colour close to what I want, then tint it over to where I want it.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:03 AM

 Killjoy wrote:
Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought.  I was HOPING someone might have already done this, and possibly posted the results.

I was in Michael's crafts yesterday afternoon and wandered into their book aisle.  I saw one, 'Color Mixing for Artists' [or similar] which might have the sort of information you are seeking.  It is addressed to those who use tube paints (oils, acrylics) but many of the concepts are the same.    They have a series of related paint color spots, then they suggest mixes to get there.   For example, a nice medium-to-light gray with a hint of blue was something like 5 parts Ultramarine Blue, 3 parts Cad Yellow, and 64 parts white.   You will still need to experiment  and see what works for you and keep notes.   But it will still give you a starting point for your mixes.

Your local library might have the book or a similar reference on hand so that you dont need to make the upfront purchase.

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