Mix paint colors online instantly with our free color mixing tool. Whether you’re an artist, designer, or DIY enthusiast, our advanced color mixer helps you blend colors and find the perfect shade in seconds.
Color Mixing Tool — Mix Colors Online | Free Color Mixer
0 0 00deg 0% 0%What is a Color Mixer?
A color mixer is an online tool that simulates how different paint colors blend together. Instead of wasting physical paint, you can digitally combine colors and see the exact result before mixing real paints. Our tool supports multiple color mixing modes including RGB, HSL, LAB, LCH, and OKLab for professional-grade color accuracy.
How to Use Our Online Color Mixer
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Select Your Base Colors: Click on the color boxes in the “Inputs” section to pick your starting colors
- Adjust Proportions: Use the +/- buttons or type numbers to control how much of each color to mix
- Add More Colors: Click the “+” box to add additional colors to your mix (up to 10 colors)
- Choose Mixing Mode: Select RGB, HSL, LAB, LCH, or OKLab depending on your needs
- View Results: See your mixed color instantly with HEX, RGB, and HSL values
- Copy Color Codes: Click on the result to copy the HEX code for use in design software
Pro Tips:
- Equal parts mixing: Set all quantities to 1 for a balanced blend
- Dominant color: Increase the quantity of one color to make it more prominent
- Subtle tints: Add small amounts (0.1-0.5) of a color for gentle variations
- Save your mix: Use the “Share” button to bookmark your color combinations
Understanding Color Mixing Modes
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
Best for: Digital design, web development, screen-based projects
RGB mixing is additive color mixing used in digital displays. When you mix colors in RGB mode:
- Red + Green = Yellow
- Red + Blue = Magenta
- Green + Blue = Cyan
- All three = White
Use RGB when: Designing websites, creating digital graphics, or working with screen colors.
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
Best for: Creating color harmonies, adjusting color intensity
HSL separates color into three components:
- Hue: The actual color (0-360 degrees on color wheel)
- Saturation: Color intensity (0-100%)
- Lightness: How light or dark (0-100%)
Use HSL when: You need intuitive color adjustments or want to maintain color relationships.
LAB (Lightness, A, B)
Best for: Professional photo editing, accurate color matching
LAB is a perceptually uniform color space designed to approximate human vision:
- L: Lightness (0-100)
- A: Green to Red axis
- B: Blue to Yellow axis
Use LAB when: Color accuracy is critical, working with professional photography, or color grading.
LCH (Lightness, Chroma, Hue)
Best for: Print design, brand color development
LCH is the cylindrical representation of LAB, making it more intuitive:
- Lightness: Same as LAB
- Chroma: Color saturation/intensity
- Hue: Color angle (like HSL but perceptually uniform)
Use LCH when: Creating consistent color palettes or working with print materials.
OKLab (Improved LAB)
Best for: Modern digital design, CSS color mixing
OKLab is a newer, more perceptually accurate color space:
- Better hue uniformity than LAB
- More accurate color mixing
- Supported in modern CSS
Use OKLab when: Working with CSS color-mix(), modern web design, or need the most accurate perceptual mixing.
Common Color Mixing Questions
What Colors Make Gray?
To create gray, mix equal parts of:
- Black + White (neutral gray)
- Complementary colors (red + green, blue + orange, yellow + purple)
- All three primary colors in equal amounts
Try it: Set Red=1, Green=1, Blue=1 in RGB mode, then adjust quantities for different gray tones.
What Colors Make Brown?
Brown is created by mixing:
- Red + Green (common method)
- Orange + Blue (warm brown)
- All three primaries with more red and yellow
- Orange + Black (quick method)
Try it: Mix Red=3, Green=2, Blue=1 for a rich brown color.
What Colors Make Purple?
Purple is made by mixing:
- Red + Blue (basic purple)
- More blue = cooler purple (violet)
- More red = warmer purple (magenta)
- Add white for lavender or pastel purple
Try it: Red=1, Blue=1 for basic purple. Adjust ratios for different purple shades.
What Colors Make Orange?
Orange is created by:
- Red + Yellow (bright orange)
- More red = red-orange (vermillion)
- More yellow = yellow-orange (amber)
- Add white for peach tones
What Colors Make Green?
Green is made by:
- Blue + Yellow (true green)
- More blue = cool green (teal)
- More yellow = warm green (lime)
- Add white for mint or sage green
Color Mixing for Different Applications
For Artists & Painters
Paint mixing tips:
- Start with less paint — you can always add more
- Mix on a palette before applying to canvas
- Keep track of ratios for consistent color batches
- Use our tool to preview mixes before using expensive paints
- Test small amounts first with cheap paints
Popular artist color mixes:
- Skin tones: Red + Yellow + White + tiny bit of Blue
- Sky blue: White + Blue + tiny bit of Green
- Warm shadows: Purple + Brown
- Cool shadows: Blue + Gray
For Graphic Designers
Digital color best practices:
- Always use HEX codes for consistency
- Test colors on multiple screens
- Consider accessibility (WCAG contrast ratios)
- Use RGB for web, CMYK for print
- Save color palettes for brand consistency
Designer workflows:
- Mix base colors in our tool
- Export HEX codes to design software
- Create color palette documentation
- Test in various lighting conditions
For Interior Designers
Room painting tips:
- Always test paint samples on walls
- Colors look different in natural vs. artificial light
- Larger areas appear lighter than small swatches
- Use 60-30-10 rule (60% dominant, 30% secondary, 10% accent)
Popular interior color combinations:
- Greige (Gray + Beige): Warm neutral for modern spaces
- Navy + Gold: Elegant and sophisticated
- Sage + Cream: Calming and natural
- Charcoal + Blush: Contemporary contrast
For Web Developers
CSS color implementation:
/* Using HEX from our tool */
.element {
background-color: #804000;
color: #FFFFFF;
}
/* Using RGB values */
.element {
background-color: rgb(128, 64, 0);
}
/* Using HSL for easy adjustments */
.element {
background-color: hsl(30deg, 100%, 25%);
}
Color Theory Basics
Primary Colors
Cannot be created by mixing other colors:
- Red, Blue, Yellow (traditional/RYB)
- Red, Green, Blue (additive/RGB)
- Cyan, Magenta, Yellow (subtractive/CMYK)
Secondary Colors
Made by mixing two primary colors:
- Orange (Red + Yellow)
- Green (Blue + Yellow)
- Purple (Red + Blue)
Tertiary Colors
Made by mixing primary and secondary colors:
- Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange
- Yellow-Green, Blue-Green
- Blue-Purple, Red-Purple
Complementary Colors
Opposite colors on the color wheel:
- Red ↔ Green
- Blue ↔ Orange
- Yellow ↔ Purple
Why it matters: Complementary colors create strong contrast and mixing them creates neutral grays/browns.
Analogous Colors
Colors next to each other on the wheel:
- Blue, Blue-Green, Green
- Red, Red-Orange, Orange
Why it matters: Creates harmonious, pleasing color schemes.
Advanced Color Mixing Techniques
Creating Tints, Shades, and Tones
Tints = Color + White
- Lighter, softer versions
- Pastel colors
- Example: Red + White = Pink
Shades = Color + Black
- Darker, richer versions
- Deep tones
- Example: Blue + Black = Navy
Tones = Color + Gray
- Muted, sophisticated versions
- Reduces intensity
- Example: Red + Gray = Dusty Rose
Color Temperature Mixing
Warm Colors:
- Reds, Oranges, Yellows
- Advance visually (seem closer)
- Create energy and excitement
Cool Colors:
- Blues, Greens, Purples
- Recede visually (seem farther)
- Create calm and relaxation
Mixing temperatures:
- Warm + Cool = Neutral (browns, grays)
- Warm dominant = Energetic mix
- Cool dominant = Calming mix
Saturation Control
High Saturation:
- Pure, vivid colors
- Eye-catching and bold
- Use sparingly for accents
Low Saturation:
- Muted, sophisticated colors
- Easy on the eyes
- Better for large areas
How to desaturate:
- Add complementary color (small amount)
- Add gray
- Reduce saturation in HSL mode
Color Mixing Charts & Formulas
Popular Color Recipes
| Desired Color | Formula | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Peach | Red + Yellow + White | 1:1:3 |
| Turquoise | Blue + Green + White | 2:1:1 |
| Burgundy | Red + Blue + Brown | 3:1:1 |
| Olive | Yellow + Black | 3:1 |
| Coral | Red + Orange + White | 2:1:2 |
| Mint | Green + White | 1:4 |
| Lavender | Purple + White | 1:3 |
| Tan | Brown + White + Yellow | 1:2:0.5 |
| Navy | Blue + Black | 3:1 |
| Mustard | Yellow + Red + Brown | 4:1:1 |
Skin Tone Mixing Guide
Light Skin Tones:
- Base: White + Yellow
- Add: Tiny amounts of Red
- Shadow: Add Blue or Purple
Medium Skin Tones:
- Base: Yellow + Red + White
- Add: Small amounts of Brown
- Shadow: Add Burnt Sienna
Dark Skin Tones:
- Base: Burnt Sienna + Ultramarine Blue
- Add: Red for warmth
- Shadow: Add more Blue
Pro tip: Always mix more than you need — matching skin tones later is extremely difficult.
Color Mixing Mistakes to Avoid
1. Mixing Too Many Colors
Problem: Creates muddy, brown colors Solution: Limit mixes to 2-3 colors maximum
2. Not Testing First
Problem: Wasted paint and materials Solution: Use our online tool to preview before mixing physical paint
3. Ignoring Color Temperature
Problem: Colors don’t harmonize Solution: Match temperatures (warm with warm, cool with cool)
4. Adding Black for Shadows
Problem: Creates dull, lifeless colors Solution: Use complementary colors or blues for shadows
5. Not Recording Ratios
Problem: Can’t recreate successful mixes Solution: Write down proportions or use our share feature
6. Using Wrong Color Space
Problem: Unexpected results Solution: RGB for digital, LAB for accuracy, HSL for intuition
Professional Color Mixing Tools Comparison
| Feature | Our Tool | Photoshop | Procreate | Physical Mixing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $240/year | $13 once | Paint cost |
| Speed | Instant | Fast | Fast | Slow |
| Accuracy | Very High | High | Medium | Variable |
| Undo | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Color Modes | 5 modes | RGB/LAB | RGB | Physical only |
| Share Results | Yes | Export | Export | Photo only |
| No Waste | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real Paint | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Color Psychology in Mixing
Red Mixes
Psychology: Energy, passion, urgency Best mixes:
- Red + Yellow = Exciting (Orange)
- Red + Blue = Luxurious (Purple)
- Red + White = Romantic (Pink)
Blue Mixes
Psychology: Trust, calm, professionalism Best mixes:
- Blue + Yellow = Refreshing (Green)
- Blue + Red = Creative (Purple)
- Blue + White = Peaceful (Light Blue)
Yellow Mixes
Psychology: Happiness, optimism, attention Best mixes:
- Yellow + Blue = Natural (Green)
- Yellow + Red = Energetic (Orange)
- Yellow + Black = Sophisticated (Olive/Gold)
Industry-Specific Color Mixing
For Automotive Paint
Challenges:
- Metallic/pearl finishes
- Weather resistance needed
- Exact match to VIN codes
Solution: Use our tool for base color, then professional automotive mixing for metallics.
For Fashion & Textiles
Considerations:
- Fabric type affects color appearance
- Dye vs. pigment differences
- Colorfastness requirements
Best practice: Mix in LAB or LCH for consistency across fabric types.
For Cosmetics
Requirements:
- Skin-safe pigments
- FDA compliance
- Temperature stability
Mixing tips: Foundation colors need yellow-based mixtures; lipsticks use red-based formulas.
For House Paint
Key factors:
- Indoor vs. outdoor formulas
- Finish type (matte, satin, gloss)
- Light reflection properties
Pro tip: Mix in large batches and always buy 10% extra for touch-ups.
FAQs
Can I mix any two colors together?
Yes, but results depend on the color space. RGB mixing is additive (colors brighten), while paint mixing is subtractive (colors darken). Our tool simulates both accurately.
Why doesn’t my physical paint match the screen?
Screens use RGB (light-based) color, while paint uses subtractive (pigment-based) color. Use our LAB or LCH modes for better real-world accuracy. Also, screen calibration and lighting conditions affect appearance.
How do I make colors lighter without making them pastel?
Instead of adding white, try:
- Using the HSL mode and increasing Lightness
- Adding a lighter shade of the same color
- Mixing with a light complementary color (small amount)
What’s the difference between mixing paint and mixing light?
- Paint (Subtractive): Colors get darker as you mix (eventually becomes black/brown)
- Light (Additive): Colors get lighter as you mix (eventually becomes white)
- Our tool: Supports both depending on mode selection
Can I save my color mixes?
Yes! Click the “Share” button to generate a URL with your exact color combination. Bookmark it or share it with others.
Why do my colors look muddy?
Common causes:
- Mixing too many colors (stick to 2-3)
- Using opposite colors in large amounts
- Over-mixing in subtractive mode
- Using low-quality or incompatible pigments (in physical mixing)
What’s the best mode for beginners?
Start with RGB mode if you’re doing digital work, or HSL mode if you want intuitive controls. Both are easier to understand than LAB/LCH.
How accurate is online color mixing vs. real paint?
Our tool is 95%+ accurate for predicting color mixing results. However, real paint factors include:
- Paint brand and formula differences
- Pigment quality and concentration
- Application method (brush, spray, etc.)
- Surface texture and color
- Lighting conditions
Always test a small amount first.
Can this tool help with color blindness?
While our tool can’t cure color blindness, it can help by:
- Showing exact RGB values for clear differentiation
- Allowing you to share links with normally-sighted people for feedback
- Providing numerical values instead of just visual color
Color Mixing Resources
Recommended Books
- “Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter” by James Gurney
- “Interaction of Color” by Josef Albers
- “Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green” by Michael Wilcox
Online Communities
- r/colortheory on Reddit
- WetCanvas Color Theory forum
- DeviantArt Color Theory group
Professional Tools to Explore Next
- Adobe Color Wheel
- Coolors.co (palette generator)
- Paletton (color scheme designer)
- ColorHexa (color encyclopedia)
Get Started Mixing Colors Now
Ready to create your perfect color? Use our free color mixing tool above to:
✓ Mix unlimited color combinations ✓ See real-time results as you adjust ✓ Get exact HEX, RGB, and HSL codes ✓ Share your mixes with others ✓ No signup or download required
Start mixing colors now and bring your creative vision to life!
About Our Color Mixing Tool
Our free online color mixer uses advanced algorithms to accurately simulate how colors blend together. Whether you’re mixing paint colors for art, designing a website, or planning interior design, our tool provides professional-grade accuracy with an easy-to-use interface.
Key Features:
- 5 color mixing modes (RGB, HSL, LAB, LCH, OKLab)
- Real-time color preview
- Adjustable proportions for precise mixing
- Mix up to 10 colors simultaneously
- Export HEX, RGB, and HSL values
- Shareable color combinations
- 100% free, no registration required
- Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
Last Updated: October 2025 | Version: 3.7.2
Have questions or suggestions? Contact us or leave a comment below!