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What color do red and blue make?

Mixed as paint, red and blue make a dark purple. 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.

dark purple

#502E56 · dark purple

HEX

RGB

HSL

OKLCH

Contrast 11.25:1 with white, 1.87:1 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 #502E56 in a UI? Atmos builds an accessible shade scale from it.

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Red and blue make dark purple

Mixed as paint, red and blue make a dark purple (#502E56). As light on a screen, they make a purple (#D353DF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a purple (#9D29B0).

dark purple

#502E56

As paint

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

purple

#D353DF

As light

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

purple

#9D29B0

In CSS (OKLCH)

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

Mixing red and blue in different ratios

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

3:1 · #682B4B

3 red : 1 blue, maroon

2:1 · #5E2C4E

2 red : 1 blue, magenta

1:1 · #502E56

1 red : 1 blue, dark purple

1:2 · #463263

1 red : 2 blue, dark purple

1:3 · #41356D

1 red : 3 blue, dark purple

Making the mix lighter or darker

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

With white

#976B9D

20%

#B58DBA

40%

#CAA9CE

60%

#DDC5DF

80%

With black

#432B46

20%

#362737

40%

#282029

60%

#191619

80%

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

Mixing red and blue FAQ

Mixed as paint, red and blue make a dark purple (#502E56). As light on a screen, they make a purple (#D353DF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a purple (#9D29B0).

Light adds up instead of absorbing, so red and blue light make a purple (#D353DF). 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 red to one part blue gives a maroon (#682B4B), while one part red to three parts blue gives a dark purple (#41356D). To lighten the result add white, and to darken it add a little black.

Use color-mix(in oklch, #D1193E 50%, #1D4ED8 50%), which gives #9D29B0. OKLCH keeps the middle of the mix bright, while mixing in sRGB tends to turn it gray.