You can make yellow paint by mixing red and green pigments, based on the subtractive color model.
Understanding Subtractive Color Mixing
The subtractive color model, often used when working with physical pigments like paint, utilizes red, green, and blue as its primary colors. Unlike the additive color model (used for light), mixing these colors subtracts light, ultimately leading to darker colors. In this context:
- Primary Colors: Red, green, and blue.
- Secondary Colors: Created by mixing two primary colors.
Making Yellow Without Yellow Pigment
According to the reference material, mixing the primary colors red and green will produce yellow when using color pigments. This might seem counterintuitive if you're more familiar with the traditional model, which uses red, yellow and blue as the primary colors. However, based on the subtractive color model:
| Primary Color 1 | Primary Color 2 | Resulting Color |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Green | Yellow |
Practical Considerations
- Pigment Quality: The exact shade of yellow produced may vary based on the specific pigments used. Some reds and greens may be duller or more vibrant, leading to slightly different yellows.
- Mixing Ratio: The ideal ratio of red and green to achieve a specific shade of yellow will require some experimentation. Start with equal parts and adjust as needed to achieve your desired tone.
- Medium: Keep in mind that the medium for the pigment (e.g. oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolor) can also affect the final outcome.
- No Guarantee: The result might not be a perfect "out-of-the-tube" yellow, but a shade of yellow can be produced.
