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7 Shocking Secrets Of Color Theory: What Color Do Blue And Purple Actually Make?

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The simple question, "What color makes purple and blue?" often receives a misleadingly simple answer. As of late December 2025, the definitive answer in the world of art and design is that mixing blue and purple creates a complex, deep, and highly versatile tertiary color known as blue-violet, or more commonly, indigo. This combination is far more nuanced than just a "darker purple," representing a critical bridge on the color wheel between the primary and secondary hues.

The resulting shade is essential for artists, designers, and anyone working with color, as it is the key to creating rich shadows, deep night skies, and complex jewel tones. Understanding this mix requires moving beyond the basic Red-Yellow-Blue (RYB) model and diving into the practical science of pigment and light.

The Definitive Answer: Blue-Violet and Indigo

In the subtractive color model—the one used for mixing paints, inks, and dyes—combining any two adjacent colors on the traditional color wheel results in a tertiary color. Since purple (or violet) is a secondary color made from red and blue, and blue is a primary color, mixing them together produces a shade that leans heavily toward the blue side of the spectrum.

  • The Technical Name: Blue-Violet (or Violet-Blue). This is the official name for the tertiary color that sits between blue and violet on the 12-step color wheel. It is a true blend, sharing properties equally from both parent colors.
  • The Practical Name: Indigo. Historically and practically, the result of a deep blue mixed with a true purple is often referred to as indigo. Indigo is famously the color between blue and violet in the visible light spectrum (ROYGBIV). It is typically a very dark, intense, and rich blue-purple.

The exact shade you achieve—whether it’s a bright periwinkle or a deep, almost black indigo—is entirely dependent on the specific pigments and their ratios. This is the first and most crucial secret to mastering this color mix.

The Color Model Controversy: RYB vs. CMYK

To truly master the blue-purple mix, you must understand that the "purple" you start with is not always the same. Modern color theory distinguishes between the traditional artist's model and the modern printing model, which profoundly affects the outcome.

The Traditional RYB (Red-Yellow-Blue) Model

The RYB model is what most artists learn first. In this system, red and blue are primary colors, and mixing them creates purple. However, the red and blue pigments used in traditional paint sets often lean slightly warm (e.g., Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue). When mixed, they create a duller, muddy purple.

  • The Problem: When you mix this dull purple with more blue, the resulting blue-violet can look muted or greyish, lacking the vibrant saturation you might desire.

The Modern CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Key/Black) Model

The CMYK model, used in printing and modern high-quality pigments, is considered more accurate for subtractive mixing. In this model, Magenta and Cyan are the true primary pigments for creating vibrant secondary colors.

  • The Solution: A true, bright purple is made by mixing Magenta and a cool Cyan blue. When this vibrant purple is mixed with more blue (Cyan or Phthalo Blue), the resulting blue-violet or indigo is far cleaner, brighter, and more saturated. This is the secret to achieving those vivid jewel tones.

Practical Pigment Ratios: How to Mix the Perfect Indigo

The key to achieving a professional-grade blue-violet or indigo is controlling the ratio and choosing the right cold-leaning pigments. This section details the specific formulas used by contemporary artists for acrylic paint and oil paint.

1. Creating a Deep Indigo from Primary Colors

If you only have primary colors (Red, Blue, Yellow), you must first create a vibrant purple, then add blue to push it toward indigo. For the best results, use cool primaries like Quinacridone Magenta (a cool red) and Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) (a cool blue).

The Ratio:

  • Step 1 (Make Purple): 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Quinacridone Magenta.
  • Step 2 (Make Indigo): Take the purple mix and add 3 to 4 parts more Phthalo Blue. The final ratio should be heavily skewed toward the blue pigment.

2. Mixing Blue-Violet from Secondary Colors

If you have a tube of purple (violet) paint, the process is simpler, but pigment choice is still critical. Using a high-quality purple like Dioxazine Purple will yield the best results.

The Ratio:

  • For Blue-Violet (Balanced): Start with equal parts Dioxazine Purple and Ultramarine Blue. This creates a classic, mid-tone blue-violet.
  • For Deep Indigo (Blue-Heavy): Use a 2:1 ratio of Ultramarine Blue to Dioxazine Purple. The higher blue concentration ensures the color is a true, deep indigo, perfect for shadows and night skies.

3. Achieving a Near-Black Shadow Color

A common technique is to mix indigo to create a rich, chromatic black that looks more dynamic than simple tube black. This is achieved by adding a touch of a warm color to the indigo mix.

The Ratio:

  • Mix 5 parts Indigo (your blue-heavy mix) with 1 part Burnt Sienna (a warm brown) or a small amount of Crimson red. This mix creates a deep, complex shadow color that still retains a subtle blue-purple undertone, adding depth to paintings.

The LSI Color Entities: 7 Shades of Blue-Purple Mastery

The spectrum of colors created by mixing purple and blue is vast, offering a range of hues and tints for any artistic project. Mastering these specific shades is a hallmark of a professional artist, providing high topical authority in color mixing.

  1. Periwinkle: A pale, cool blue-violet created by adding a large amount of white to the blue-purple mix. This is a high-key tint.
  2. Ultramarine Violet: A highly saturated, slightly redder blue-violet, often achieved using the pigment Ultramarine Blue with a small amount of red.
  3. Phthalo Blue-Violet: A very intense, clean, and cool blue-violet created using Phthalo Blue (a powerful pigment) and a magenta-based purple.
  4. Dioxazine Purple Indigo: An extremely deep, almost black indigo achieved by mixing Dioxazine Purple (a very dark pigment) with a dark blue like Prussian Blue.
  5. Shadow Indigo: The complex, deep shade used for painting shadows, often incorporating a neutralizer like Vandyke Brown or Raw Umber to slightly desaturate the indigo.
  6. Manganese Violet: A lighter, more translucent violet that, when mixed with blue, creates a soft, hazy blue-purple, ideal for atmospheric effects.
  7. Chromatic Black: A mixture of blue and purple (indigo) that is so dark it appears black, but unlike tube black, it has a cool, luminous quality when thinned.

In conclusion, while the simple answer is "blue-violet" or "indigo," the true mastery lies in the selection of modern pigments like Cyan, Magenta, and Phthalo Blue, and the precise subtractive mixing ratios. By focusing on a blue-heavy ratio, you move the color away from a secondary purple and into the realm of a rich, deep tertiary indigo, unlocking a powerful tool in your artistic repertoire.

7 Shocking Secrets of Color Theory: What Color Do Blue and Purple Actually Make?
what color makes purple and blue
what color makes purple and blue

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