To make pink, you create a paler version of red by mixing white and red together.
The Foundation of Pink: Red and White
Based on color principles, particularly as related to pigment mixing and placement on a color wheel, pink is essentially a lighter shade of red. The process is straightforward:
- Start with red pigment.
- Gradually add white pigment to the red.
- Mix the pigments thoroughly until the color reaches the desired shade of pink.
This process creates what is known as a tint of red, meaning red lightened with white.
Creating Different Tints
Paler shades of pink are achieved by simply adding more white to the red pigment until you produce the desired result. The more white you add, the lighter and softer the pink will become.
| Base Color | Modifier | Resulting Color | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | White | Pink | A paler version of red |
Pink on the Modern Color Wheel
While the color wheel is a tool for understanding color relationships and mixing primary and secondary colors, pink isn't typically shown as a distinct sector between two main colors. Instead, on modern color wheels, pink is viewed alongside red and mauve. This placement acknowledges its relationship as a tint of red, often appearing on color charts or wheels as lighter variations extending from the red segment.
Understanding how pink is made involves recognizing that it's a result of altering an existing color (red) with a neutral (white), placing it within the family of reds rather than as a product of mixing two different hues from opposing sides of the wheel.
