How to mix two paint colors to get a specific color
To mix two paint colors into a specific target, start with the dominant hue, add the secondary color in small increments (roughly 10–20% at a time), then adjust value with white or black. Test on paper between additions — paint shifts as it dries.
Step-by-step
Identify the dominant hue
Decide which of your two tubes is closest to the target. That tube becomes the base — usually 60–80% of the mix.
Add the modifier in small steps
Add the second color in 10–20% increments. Stir fully each time. Stop the moment the swatch reads the target hue.
Adjust value, not hue
Lighten with Titanium White (acrylic/oil) or with water (watercolour). Darken with the mix's complement before reaching for black.
Test wet and dry
Paint a swatch, let it dry, then compare to the target. Acrylics darken 10–15%, oils barely shift, watercolours lift lighter.
Sample mixing ratios
- Warm orange
- Cadmium Yellow 70% + Cadmium Red 30%
- Soft sage green
- Yellow Ochre 55% + Ultramarine Blue 25% + Titanium White 20%
- Cool grey
- Ultramarine Blue 40% + Burnt Sienna 35% + Titanium White 25%
Ratios are calibrated as a starting point. Pigment tinting strength varies by brand — use Chromilla's color mixing calculator to recalibrate for your specific tubes.
Open the color mixing calculator
Paste a hex or pick a color and Chromilla returns the exact tube ratios for your brand and medium.
Open Chromilla →Frequently asked questions
- How much of each color should I start with?
- Start with a 4:1 ratio of base color to modifier and adjust. Pigments vary hugely in tinting strength — phthalo blue is 20× stronger than yellow ochre, so a tiny dot is plenty.
- Why does my mix look muddy?
- Muddy mixes usually mean three or more pigments that already contain hints of each other. Stick to two pigments plus white, or use a Chromilla recipe that picks the cleanest pair for your target.