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What color do blue and black make?

Mixed as paint, blue and black make a muted blue. Change the ratio, switch to light or CSS mixing, and copy the result.

Colors to mix

1

50%

1

50%

Paint mode simulates real pigments with the Kubelka-Munk model, so blue and yellow make green, just like on a palette.

muted blue

#234259 · muted blue

HEX

RGB

HSL

OKLCH

Contrast 10.53:1 with white, 2:1 with black

Blend steps

All color 1

Click a step to use its ratio

All color 2

Add white

20%

40%

60%

80%

Add black

20%

40%

60%

80%

Using #234259 in a UI? Atmos builds an accessible shade scale from it.

Generate shades free

Blue and black make muted blue

Mixed as paint, blue and black make a muted blue (#234259). As light on a screen, they make a blue (#2953D9), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a dark blue (#1E3773).

muted blue

#234259

As paint

Pigments absorb light, so every color you add takes some away. This is what you get on a palette or canvas.

blue

#2953D9

As light

Colored lights add up, as on a screen or stage. Mixes get brighter, not darker.

dark blue

#1E3773

In CSS (OKLCH)

What color-mix(in oklch, …) returns for an even mix in the browser.

Mixing blue and black in different ratios

The ratio decides which color leads. These are paint mixes, measured in equal-sized parts.

3:1 · #1E4D7F

3 blue : 1 black, dark blue

2:1 · #204A71

2 blue : 1 black, dark blue

1:1 · #234259

1 blue : 1 black, muted blue

1:2 · #243945

1 blue : 2 black, dark gray

1:3 · #24333B

1 blue : 3 black, dark gray

Making the mix lighter or darker

Add white for tints and black for shades. Each step adds 20% more of it to the even blue and black mix.

With white

#55829C

20%

#76A2B9

40%

#94BBCD

60%

#B5D2DE

80%

With black

#223B49

20%

#20323A

40%

#1C282C

60%

#151A1B

80%

Need a full scale for a UI instead? The shade generator builds evenly spaced, accessible shades from any color.

Mixing blue and black FAQ

Mixed as paint, blue and black make a muted blue (#234259). As light on a screen, they make a blue (#2953D9), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a dark blue (#1E3773).

Light adds up instead of absorbing, so blue and black light make a blue (#2953D9). That is why screens can show bright yellows from red and green light, while the same paints would turn brown.

Change the ratio. Three parts blue to one part black gives a dark blue (#1E4D7F), while one part blue to three parts black gives a dark gray (#24333B). To lighten the result add white, and to darken it add a little black.

Use color-mix(in oklch, #1D4ED8 50%, #1A1A1A 50%), which gives #1E3773. OKLCH keeps the middle of the mix bright, while mixing in sRGB tends to turn it gray.