What Color Does Blue and Pink Make? – Making Shades of Purple

Blue and pink are both well-known and loved colors throughout the world, which is why these colors are seen in a variety of fields ranging from art to different forms of design. However, what color does blue and pink make? To find out what a pink and blue combination produces, read further to find out! We will also be discussing the meaning and best uses for this mystery color.

What Color Does Blue and Pink Make?

Blue and Pink does make a shade of Pastel Purple. We say shade because it depends on the proportions and types of colors added. Blue is considered a primary color, while pink is more a shade of red that has more white added to it.

Mixing Results for Different Shades of Pink and Blue

Understanding Blue and Pink As Colors

In color theory and dealing with the traditional color model, blue and red are both primary colors. The third primary color is yellow, while the secondary colors include orange, green, and purple. Each color can be located on what is known as the color wheel. The color wheel helps us to visualize the different colors and how they work with one another.

There are also a few other terms you should know when dealing with colors, for example, shades and tints.

• Shades: These are colors that black has been added to, which creates darker and darker hues.
• Tints: When white is added to a color, it is described as a tint, which creates colors that go lighter and lighter, depending on the amount of white being added.

Saying pink is a shade of red is a little misleading, as it is more of a tint, but many use the phrase when speaking in general terms for different types of colors from the same family. So, white has been added to the red to create pink, which can range from a strong and vibrant pink to a light and pale pink. Another aspect of color theory is color bias or color temperature. Blue is considered a cool color and will most likely remind you of the sky or water. Other cool colors include green and purple. Red is considered a warm color and generally reminds one of fire and heat.

Other warm colors include orange and yellow. These warm and cool colors are divided on the color wheel, with cool colors in one part and warm colors in the other.

Pink is also generally a warm color since it is from the red family of colors. However, you can also get individual cool reds, which have hints or slight undertones of blue or purple. In a similar way, different individual blues can also have warmer undertones. For example, ultramarine blue has a warm reddish undertone. Each color also has meaning and associations, which can be influenced by many things, such as cultural influences and personal experiences. Let us take a look at the general meaning of both blue and pink colors.

Meaning of Blue

Blue is a cool color and is often associated with the sky or bodies of water. The color’s main effects are to soothe and calm. It is also a popular color to use if you want to evoke loyalty and trust, as it helps to build confidence and helps you to feel safe. Blue does not make a show of itself and represents understanding and patience.

You tend to feel comfortable with blue, which is most probably why it is a favorite among many.

Lighter blues are associated more with health, healing, and tranquility, while darker shades are associated more with power, professionalism, and knowledge. However, too much blue can seem depressing, predictable, and too conservative.

Meaning of Pink

Pink is a softer version of red, which is fiery and full of passion. Both red and pink represent love and romance, but pink is associated more with affection, friendship, compassion, peace, harmony, and nurturing. It evokes feelings of hope, comfort, warmth, and playfulness. However, over the years, due to various influences, pink has gained a feminine association. For example, when a baby girl is born, the color most often chosen is pink. Blue is similar for boys.

Too much pink can seem immature and keeping with the negative side, pink is often associated with timidity, being over-emotional, and lacking in confidence.

Pink and Blue Mixed With Paint

When dealing with the traditional color model, it is often used when mixing paints. Pink and blue mixed, should create a type of purple. The color you are looking for will depend on the amount of each blue and pink paint. However, you would have to purchase a pink tube of paint, and many basic paint sets will not come with pink. However, there is usually red and white, so you can make the pink color yourself. You can experiment with first creating pink and then mixing a little blue into the pink until you get the purple you want.

You can also first try mixing red and blue, and then adding this to the white to get the shade of purple you are looking for. 

Why Is a Pink and Blue Combination Sometimes Difficult to Achieve?

Whatever way you decide to make purple, sometimes it might seem challenging. The mixed color could come out a purple-brow or muddy color, instead of a more vibrant purple you were going for. Why is this? The reason is that most paint manufacturers have their own formulas for their paints. So, not all paints are made equal. You might find a paint that says “red” or “blue”, however, there are many types of red or blue.  Many of them are not “pure blue” and have other colors mixed in.

Many reds and blues can even contain yellow. So, when you are blending colors, you will be combining all three primary colors. In color theory, this means that you will land up with a dark neutral color like gray or brown.

This is because, when you mix paints, you are using subtractive color mixing. These colors are created when certain color wavelengths are absorbed, while other colors are reflected. So, if you are not getting the purple expected, consider trying a different red or blue paint. Preferably, read the label when purchasing your paint tubes. However, if you are not too sure, experiment with different reds and blues to see what happens, you might create something even better than you wanted. You can consider paint colors like crimson, which is a cool red, and maybe try the ultramarine blue to create a purple.

Creating Lighter and Darker Shades

Pink is already a lighter shade of red, however, there are also various pink shades and tints. So, depending on the type of pink you use in the mix, it will create a different type of purple. Once you have created your purple color, and it still seems too dark, you can easily lighten it by adding small amounts of white paint until you get the color you want.

Similar to darker shades, if you want to darken your purple, you can add small amounts of black paint. A better idea is to add more blue to the mix, as black can take over very quickly.

Meaning of Purple

Purple is the color of royalty but has many other associations. It is also a mysterious color that is associated with wisdom, spirituality, creativity, and imagination. The purple color also encourages, inspires, and uplifts. Lighter colors of purple are more romantic and produce feelings of nostalgia. These colors are also more calming, relaxing, and friendly, and have a certain innocence about them. Lighter purples are also more feminine, youthful, intuitive, and nurturing.

Understanding Pink and Blue in Other Color Models

Besides the traditional color model, there are also other color systems that are used for different purposes. When it comes to light and mixing colors, for example, on your television or computer screen, the method is different. In this case, you use additive color mixing, when all colors combined produce white light. The color model used is known as the RGB color system and has slightly different primary colors when compared to the traditional color system. Here the primary colors are red, green, and blue, and if you mix these color lights, you will get cyan, magenta, and yellow as secondary colors.

Do blue and pink make purple? Equal measures of red and blue light should produce magenta. Violet is a soft magenta and is a true color that is seen on the visible spectrum, which is often associated with purple. However, purple is not a true color and is used mostly as a reference to different red and blue light color combinations and what people perceive as purple.

Pink light is created by different percentages of red, green, and blue as seen in the table above in the article. These ratios change, depending on the type of pink you want to create. Pink is not a pure color and has a low saturation, chroma, or intensity. So, the various shades of pink are different desaturated forms of red. Pink is also a lighter shade and has more white, so it has a higher value or brightness. So, pink and blue mixed light should produce certain varieties of purple-pink. The different types will depend on the brightness and color percentages used. Below you will find some examples of the different types of purple. We have also included the pure magenta color and purple for comparison. You might notice, there is no green present in magenta or purple.

Printing Color Model

Another color model is the CMYK color system, which also uses subtractive color mixing. In this case, cyan, magenta, and yellow are the primary hues. The “k” represents black, which you can create by blending all the primary colors. These are the colors you use when you need to use the printer and make use of ink pigments. The secondary colors in this case are red, green, and blue. Intermediate colors are produced by mixing primary and secondary colors. So, magenta and blue will create violet. You can also see the various color percentages in the CMYK color code in the table provided above.

Best Uses for Blue and Pink in Art and Design

Blue is the color of the sky and ocean, so it is found in abundance in nature. Artists have been using blue since ancient times. The blue color has been used in art to evoke various emotions, from sadness to producing a sense of calm. It has also signified many things including purity and liberty.

Pink is a little less well-known in art, but when used, it does inspire and provide a sense of positivity. The color name itself only became known in the 17th century, and only later during the Renaissance, did it become part of the artist’s palette.

Purple is also a color found in nature like blue, but not as abundantly. The purple or violet color only showed up more prolifically in the 19^th century, when Impressionist art became popular. Some of the more famous artists who used violet in their paintings include Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, and Marc Chagall. Different shades of purple can also be used in other industries, for example, creating logos, as an outfit, or painting a room in your home.

Graphic Designs and Branding

Do blue and pink make purple? The answer to this question is yes, but the type of purple is closer to a pastel color because of the pink. This might change the message slightly when compared to bolder or darker versions of purple. A color like lilac is a soft and gentle color that can be seen as calming, youthful, and friendly, which makes it appealing to many designers and customers.

The softer purple hues also have more of a feminine connection, that is also associated with spring, which should be taken into consideration.

What colors you pair with purple can also influence the effect it has. It is used to target female audiences and focus a lot on beauty products for their elegant, yet sophisticated feel. Luxury brands, who want to create a more exclusive look, can also use this shade of purple.

Fashion Design

The softer purple hues create unique and feminine outfits that can include skirts, blouses, and dresses. You can come up with a more casual look by combining a pastel purple blouse with jeans. A beautiful pastel purple dress is perfect for formal wear and is a popular choice for weddings. You can also easily pair the purple with neutrals like black and white or add a pop of yellow for a more eye-catching look. Accessorizing with purple can also provide a touch of sophistication.

This can include your favorite shade of purple as earrings, a necklace, a handbag, or shoes.

Interior Designs

The softer shades of purple are quite popular for home interiors, as they create a calm and tranquil environment. You can choose a lighter shade to act as your neutral, so you can paint the walls. The lighter purple shades are perfect for bedrooms, but the color can also be incorporated into any room of the home. If you are using a monochromatic color scheme, you can use a softer color to tone down bolder purple and create a look that has more depth, creating more balance.

You can bring touches of pastel purple color into a space to create a more subtle look. This can be done by using cushions, curtains, rugs, throws, lampshades, candles, flowers, and art, among other ideas.

Softer shades of purple also go well with many other colors. Some of the more popular colors include green and blue to enhance the calm feeling, and yellow or orange to create high contrast. If you are not sure, you can always pair neutrals like gray, black, and white with purple. 

What color does blue and pink make? This is the question we have asked and hopefully answered to your satisfaction. The result is a softer, more muted version of purple that evokes feelings of romance, springtime, and youthfulness. It is also a popular color in many design industries, so if you are looking for a more exclusive shade of purple, consider mixing blue and pink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Blue and Pink Make Purple?

Pink is a softer and lighter version of red, so if you mix pink and blue, you will get a similar lighter shade of purple. There are a few different types of this color, such as pastel purple, lilac, and lavender. The differences are all in the proportions of blue and pink in the combination.

Does Pink Pair Well With Blue?

Yes, pink goes very well with the color blue. Depending on the type of pink and blue that you use, you can create different looks. Lighter pinks and bolder blues work best to create more contrast. Creating an all-pastel combination might seem too feminine, immature, or dull for some people.

What Colors Go With Purple?

Purple goes best with white, gray, and black neutral colors. It also works wonderfully with different shades of purple, blue, and green. Complementary colors that go well with purple include yellow and orange.

Charlene Lewis( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )

In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.

Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.

Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.

Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.