How to MAKE RED COLOR – Easy Step by Step!

The first aspect that you should take into account about the Red color is that it is a primary color for our eyes, so it exists by itself without traces of more colors. But what do we mean by specifying that this color is primary for our eyesight? The truth is that you have to start by clarifying that there are two groups of primary colors: those related to our vision and those in pigments, the latter classification being the one used for art with paints and other materials.

Primary colors for our view (RGB)

If we refer to the tones that our eye observes thanks to the incidence of light on objects, then the primary colors are always red, green and blue. What in English are red, green and blue and hence its acronym. It must be taken into account that this classification is for the vision capacity of humans, since in other animal species these colors vary.

Primary colors of paint or pigments (CMY)

When we talk about the colors of the pigments in paint or dyes, then the primary colors are others: cyan, magenta and yellow, their names being in English cyan, magenta and yellow and hence its acronym.

We recommend you discover more about What are the primary colors in this other oneHOWTO article. So is there some way to make red color with other colors? The truth is that yes, since if they mix the color magenta and the color yellow in the right proportion we will obtain the red color, as you can see in this image of the primary colors united.

Temperas, also known as Gouache or gouache paint, they are a material soluble in water. What’s more, once they are completely dry, if they get wet again they return to their original state and the colors can be mixed again or simply diluted. Do you have this material at home and you wonder how to make red color with tempera? Take note:

Material

• 2 drops of magenta temepra
• 1 drop of yellow temepra
• Pallette
• Brush

Steps to make red color with tempera

1. In the palette put 2 drops of the magenta color if you have tempera tubes. If you have them in a pot, use a brush for each color, so as not to stain the paint that is stored in the pot, and take an amount like a pea for each drop you need.
2. Add 1 drop of yellow to the magenta paint.
3. Start mixing the colors with the brush until you see a homogeneous color.
4. Correct the mixture: if you have a shade closer to orange than red, just add half a drop more of magenta and mix again, if you still see it orange add another half drop until you get the shade of red you are looking for. On the other hand, if it seems to you that it has been very fuchsia it is because it lacks yellow. Add half a drop and mix to see the result until you get the red color.

Remember that the advantage of this paint is that, even if it dries by leaving it poorly closed or poorly protected, you can moisten it with a little water and it will be like the first time you used it. Therefore, you can correct the shade of red whenever you want.

Acrylics are paints that are soluble in water while they retain some moisture, that is, once they are completely dry they can no longer be diluted with water. The great thing about this material is that it can be used well on different surfaces such as paper, canvas, wood, and metal. Take note of how to make red color with acrylics.

Material

• 2 drops of magenta acrylic paint
• 1 drop of yellow acrylic
• Pallette
• Brush

Steps to make red with acrylics

1. If you have this painting in its powder format, you will first have to prepare the two colors separately so that they have the normal texture of a tempera. Here we explain how to make acrylic paint at home.
2. Open the jars or tubes of the two colors you are going to use and pour the indicated amount of each into the palette. Make sure to close the jars very well so that the paint that remains remains with its humidity for other occasions, remember that if it dries you will not be able to dilute it to recover it well even if its initial base is water. With a brush, mix the two colors well until a homogeneous result is achieved.
3. Correct the tone if you need it, adding more yellow or more magenta, as we have explained before.
4. When you get the color red you can start using it on the surface you want to paint.

If you don’t want your artwork to dry out completely and you can’t easily fix it again or even crack it, then we recommend putting a protective glass on it, as they do at art exhibitions.

Watercolors are the best-known water-based paints, because to use them well you have to add water several times during the process and, in fact, their name already indicates this particularity. In addition, if we add more water, the color tone will appear lighter and more diluted and, on the contrary, the less water we use, the more solid the color will appear.

Material

• 2 drops of magenta watercolor
• 1 drop of yellow watercolor
• Pallette
• Brush
• A glass of water

Steps to make red with watercolors

1. Prepare all the materials and start by dipping a brush in a little water and then soaking the magenta watercolor. Take enough quantity to form two large drops.
2. Go putting the watercolor on a plastic palette-
3. Clean the brush very well and do the same with the yellow watercolor.
4. Mix the two colors well in the palette and adjust to the amount as we have explained in the previous sections. If it is too orange, add magenta, but if it is too fuchsia, add more yellow. Try to use a little water at a time so the paint doesn’t get too thin.
5. Once you have the red color on the palette, you can use it on paper. If you need more quantity or adjust the shade of red more, always do it in the palette so as not to wet the paper too much.

Now that you know how to make red color with paint of different types, from UNCOMO we invite you to also visit these articles on how to make different colors with paints:

Whether you use the mixture of magenta and yellow or if you use a pure red and mix it with other colors, you can also get varied shades of red. Here we explain how to do them:

How to make blood red color

1. Mix the red paint with a small drop of black.
2. If the shade is too dark, add more red until you get the shade you want and that is more like blood: you have to play with the balance between red and black.
3. To paint an object with this tone, you have two options: you can choose to make the mixture first and then apply it or paint first with the color red and then add the black to obtain the bloody tone you want at that precise moment.

How to make strong or dark red color

The method to make a dark red color is very similar to the one you must follow to get the bloody tone: it is about play with balances between pure red and black. In this case, you will have to add a slightly higher amount of black but without neglecting the red to prevent it from becoming a brownish tone.

How to make wine red color

To obtain a wine red color, you will need to combine the pure red with a small amount of another that complements it such as blue, darkening it in a softer way compared to black. By correctly mixing it, you will achieve a red close to purple that is identified with the tone observed in the wine.

You can discover more information about What are complementary colors, take a look at this other article from oneHOWTO.

Making red with playdough can seem tricky, and in fact, pure red playdough already exists. However, if you have run out and you want to make one, even if it is not a pure red tone, but the tonality can vary a bit. Take note of these tips for making red with play dough:

• Get hold of magenta clay, or of a similar tone like a …