What Colors Make Red? The Color Mixing Guide (+ Palettes)

Red is one of the most searched mixing questions, and like the other primaries, the honest answer is that you cannot truly make it. Red is a primary color, a pure starting point rather than something you mix from other hues.

This guide explains why, the one real exception in printing, and how to make every red shade once you have a true red. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.

The simple answer: can you make red? #

In the traditional red-yellow-blue model used for paint, red is a primary color. No combination of other paint colors will produce a true red.

Red is a primary color

The exception: printing #

In the CMYK system used for printing, the primaries are cyan, magenta, and yellow. There, magenta + yellow = red, which is how printers make red without a red ink.

Magenta + Yellow = Red (CMYK)

How to make shades of red #

Starting from a true red, you can mix a wide range:

Pink: red + white
Dark red / maroon: red + a little black
Orange: red + yellow
Purple: red + blue

Red + white = pink

Red + black = dark red

Common mistakes #

If a red looks dull or orange-brown, it has picked up too much yellow or a muddy complement. Keep reds clean by starting with a true, slightly cool red and adding color sparingly.

Build your own red palette #

Use the PaletteDeck generator to build a full palette around any red, browse our most popular palettes, or explore more color guides.

Frequently asked questions

What two colors make red?

In traditional color mixing, no two colors make red, because red is a primary color. The main exception is printing: in CMYK, magenta and yellow combine to make red.

Is red a primary color?

Yes. Red is a primary color in the traditional red-yellow-blue model and in the red-green-blue light model, so it cannot be mixed from other colors in those systems.

How do you make red if you cannot mix it?

Start with a true red pigment, since it cannot be mixed from scratch in paint. From there you can make any red shade by adding white, black, yellow, or blue.

What colors make pink?

Add white to red to make pink. The more white you add, the lighter and softer the pink becomes.

What colors make dark red or maroon?

Add a small amount of black to red to make dark red and maroon. A touch of blue or green can also deepen red toward a richer, cooler maroon.

What colors make red in printing?

In the CMYK printing system, magenta and yellow combine to make red. This is why printed red does not need a dedicated red ink.