Color Mixing
Mix the three primary colors — red, yellow, blue — to make orange, green, purple, and more!
Primary colors
The three primary colors are RED, YELLOW, and BLUE. We call them primary because you cannot make them by mixing other colors — every other color comes from these three!
When you mix two primary colors, you get a secondary color. Red + Yellow = Orange. Yellow + Blue = Green. Red + Blue = Purple. Try the mixer below and see for yourself!
Mix your own color
Drag the R, G, B sliders to mix any color. Or tap a preset button to see a named color.
The color wheel
A color wheel shows how colors are related. The three primary colors sit in a triangle. Between each pair of primaries is the secondary color they make. Between each pair of secondaries is a tertiary color (like red-orange or blue-green).
Why this matters
Colors are how our eyes see light. When light hits an object, some colors are absorbed and some bounce back to our eyes. A red apple looks red because it absorbs every color except red — it reflects red into our eyes!
Artists, designers, and painters use color mixing every day. Computer screens mix red, green, and blue light to make every color you see. Painters mix red, yellow, and blue paint. Understanding color helps us paint, design, dress well, and even read weather maps!