The huge range of colors that exist gives many options when painting pictures, homes and other art projects. In addition, to choose the desired hue, it is important to take into account the groups of colors that exist, because that way you will know whether to opt for a primary, secondary or tertiary color. Depending on this choice, you will have to follow different procedures to obtain it.
Primary colors are essential to create secondary and tertiary colors, but those that make up the second group are often doubted. What are they really? How many there are? If you are interested in knowing what are the secondary colors and how they can be made with paint, at UNCOMO we recommend that you continue reading this article.
Secondary colors are those shades from the mixture of primary colors (yellow, red and blue). To create the secondary colors you need mix the same amount of the primary colors, since only in this way will the result obtained be considered as part of this group.
The main difference between primary and secondary colors is that the former cannot be achieved by other shades, while the latter, as mentioned above, are obtained by mixing equal parts of the primary colors.
For more information on What are the primary colors in the different models that exist, do not miss this other article.
Subtractive and additive color model
Among the different categories in which colors can be pigeonholed, there is also the one that divides pigments based on whether they manage to absorb light or reflect it. Mixing a sufficient quantity to completely cover the luminosity, you will be able to create black, which acquires the name of subtractive model because it is responsible for removing the properties by which light is reflected.
On the other hand, there are pigments that allow light waves to be reflected and that both the eyes and the brain interpret as color. These tones have different waves and, compared to the subtractive model, they acquire the name of additive model, since all the colors with the ability to reflect light waves are added to it. The result of this pigment overlap is white.
As with primaries, the subtractive (black) and additive (white) model is useful for obtaining secondary colors. It all depends on the amount of each pigment used and its ability, either to absorb or reflect light.
Considering that it depends on mixing two primary colors (50% of each) in equal parts, you can get several types of secondary colors. Depending on the different combinations you will get one or the other, but as a general rule they can be divided into three large groups:
- Orange: is the color resulting from the mixture of yellow and red (which you can substitute for magenta, since it is a fuchsia red). Use the same amount of both shades to get the most balanced orange.
- Green: it is the result of the combination of yellow and blue (which you can exchange for cyan, that is, an intense turquoise color).
- Violet: mixing blue and red results in violet. You will also achieve this by combining magenta and cyan.
In this article on How to mix colors you will find more detailed instructions to achieve different shades.
After knowing which are the secondary colors, the final step to use them correctly for the artistic project that you are going to carry out is to know how to get them with paint. To do this, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you follow these steps:
- Gather all the cans of paint you have bought (the primary colors) and add the amount you consider appropriate, but in equal parts, of each color in a palette. If you use brushes, try clean them after every mix so as not to alter the final results.
- Mix the primary colors to get the secondary ones. They are the base with which you will work, since without them you will not be able to get the different tones.
- Combine blue and yellow in equal parts to achieve green. Depending on the greenish tones you want, you should add more of one color or another (closer to blue or yellow).
- Mix the red and yellow to get the orange color. As with green, you will have to add more of the first or second to obtain a tighter tone to the one you need.
- You will get purple by mixing red and blue. As in the case of green and orange, add more of one of the two to distort the natural violet and achieve a different tone.
- By introducing black and white in small amounts, you will be able to obtain a greater variety of tones and add or reduce intensity to the rest of the colors.
- In the case of not using the colors that you have made immediately, you will have to store them in different containers so that they are not distorted or blurred.