How Do You Tint Red Paint?
To tint red paint, you modify its shade, making it lighter or darker, or adjusting its hue. This involves mixing it with other colors or white.
Adding white to red paint lightens it, but this can easily create a pinkish hue. To avoid this, consider these methods:
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Adding Warm Colors: Instead of white, mix in small amounts of warm colors like yellow or orange. This brightens the red without significantly shifting the hue. As noted in the YouTube video, "[How to Mix Shades of Red Paint - YouTube](, a lighter red can be achieved by adding yellow to red. This approach helps maintain the vibrancy and avoids unwanted pink tones.
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Using a Warm White: Some whites have subtle undertones. Experiment with different whites to find one that complements the red and lightens it without unwanted pink hues.
Darkening Red Paint
Darkening red paint is achieved by adding darker colors.
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Adding Brown or Black: Introduce small amounts of brown or black. Brown will often result in a richer, more muted red, while black may create a more intense, almost burgundy shade. The Reaper Miniatures forum (https://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/67992-creating-a-black-with-red-tint/) suggests Mahogany Brown as a good choice for darkening red.
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Using Complementary Colors: Theoretically, adding small amounts of green (a complementary color to red) can darken the red, but this requires careful application to avoid muddying the color.
Shifting the Hue of Red Paint
Adding other colors besides white, black or brown subtly changes the red's hue.
- Adding Blue: Adding blue creates a cooler, more purplish red.
- Adding Yellow: Adds warmth and creates a more orangey red.
Important Note: Always mix small amounts of the tinting color at a time, thoroughly mixing after each addition. This provides better control over the final color. Begin with a small amount to avoid accidentally creating an undesirable shade. The method of lightening colors using their “lighter neighbor in the color wheel” is highlighted on WetCanvas (https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/topic/lightening-red-without-making-pink/).
