ColourMixer

How to mix black

Chromatic Black. A darkest grey, mixed from three paints: Cadmium Red, Phthalo Blue and Ultramarine Blue.

The recipe

Drag a bar to change how much of that paint goes in, and watch the colour change at the top.

Cadmium RedPR1087 parts50%
Phthalo BluePB154 parts29%
Ultramarine BluePB293 parts21%

Parts are a ratio: a drop, a spoonful, whatever suits the amount you need.

Value2 / 10
TemperatureNeutral
Sits quietly between warm and cool.
AcrylicDries a little darker
Mix it a touch lighter than you want it.
Mix tipPhthalo Blue last
Phthalo Blue is strong. Add it a little at a time.

Other black shades

Equal-ish parts of the three primaries, balanced until no hue shows. Lighten a dab with white to check it reads neutral.

Every black colour

Your paints

The library and every recipe here are mixed from just these.

PY35Cadmium Yellow
PY3Lemon Yellow
PR108Cadmium Red
PR122Quinacridone Magenta
PB29Ultramarine Blue
PB15Phthalo Blue
PW6Titanium White