Lighter Cerulean Blue
#5290BF
76% Titanium White, 19% Phthalo Blue and 5% Alizarin Crimson. Chromilla's model predicts an 87% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
How to Mix Cerulean Blue in Acrylic
Quick answer
To mix cerulean blue (#3A78A5) in acrylic, use 2 parts Viridian Green, 1 part Titanium White and 1 part Phthalo Blue. Chromilla's model predicts an 88% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out. Chromilla is a web-based paint color mixer that turns any color, from a photo, the camera or a hex code, into exact paint-tube ratios for acrylic, oil and watercolor, using Kubelka-Munk pigment mixing and aiming at the color after it dries.
Target
Cerulean Blue
#3A78A5
Predicted dry result
88% match when dryMix to #3078A8 while wet. It dries to about #2E6C95.
| Paint | Pigment | Parts | Share | 100 ml batch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viridian Green | PG18 | 2 | 51% | 51 ml |
| Titanium White | PW6 | 1 | 25% | 25 ml |
| Phthalo Blue | PB15 | 1 | 24% | 24 ml |
How we calculated this: Kubelka-Munk pigment mixing, then a per-medium dry shift, scored with CIEDE2000. Method and accuracy benchmark. Last checked August 2026.
Terms used here: Tinting strength, Dry shift, Kubelka-Munk, Delta E (dE2000), Pigment code, Gamut.
A soft, opaque sky blue. Slightly green-leaning and calm. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #3A78A5 in acrylic, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.
Pigment recipe
Checked August 2026
Ratios calibrated for acrylic. Start with the dominant pigment, add the modifiers in the order below, and adjust in 5% steps to your target swatch.
1. Viridian Green
PG18
51%2. Titanium White
PW6
25%3. Phthalo Blue
PB15
24%
What colors make Cerulean Blue?
Viridian Green, Titanium White, and Phthalo Blue, in roughly a 51:25:24 ratio.
How to make Cerulean Blue in acrylic
Start with Viridian Green at about 51% as your acrylic base, then work in Titanium White and Phthalo Blue in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #3A78A5.
Why mix Cerulean Blue instead of buying it
Mixing Cerulean Blue yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Cerulean Blue across paint brands whose factory tubes differ, and rebuild the exact color when you run out mid painting. The recipe above is the working starting point.
Common mistakes
That pigment is a very strong tinter, add it a touch at a time or it will swallow the mix. White cools and chalks a mix as you add it, so tint in small steps and stop before it goes pastel.
Variations on Cerulean Blue
Each variation is its own target (lighter and darker move OKLCH lightness by 0.08; warmer and cooler turn the hue 12 degrees toward red or blue), solved fresh.
Darker Cerulean Blue
#20608C
12 parts Phthalo Blue, 7 parts Titanium White and 1 part Burnt Umber. Chromilla's model predicts a 90% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Warmer Cerulean Blue
#4A74A9
9 parts Titanium White, 3 parts Phthalo Blue and 2 parts Alizarin Crimson. Chromilla's model predicts an 87% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Cooler Cerulean Blue
#4A74A9
9 parts Titanium White, 3 parts Phthalo Blue and 2 parts Alizarin Crimson. Chromilla's model predicts an 87% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Cerulean Blue questions
- What two colors make cerulean blue?
- Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses 3 tubes rather than two: 2 parts Viridian Green, 1 part Titanium White and 1 part Phthalo Blue. Viridian Green leads the mix. Chromilla's model predicts an 88% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
- How do you make cerulean blue paint lighter without losing the hue?
- Re-balance the mix instead of only adding white. For a lighter cerulean blue (#5290BF) in acrylic, Chromilla mixes 76% Titanium White, 19% Phthalo Blue and 5% Alizarin Crimson. Chromilla's model predicts an 87% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
- Why does cerulean blue look different when acrylic dries?
- Acrylic binder looks milky while wet and clears as it dries, so the dried film reads darker. Chromilla's model applies a 10% value shift for acrylic, so the wet mix #3078A8 is predicted to dry to about #2E6C95. Dries slightly darker and a touch warmer.
- What is the hex code for cerulean blue?
- Chromilla uses #3A78A5 as the target for cerulean blue. The acrylic recipe is predicted to dry to about #2E6C95.
- Can I mix cerulean blue without black?
- Yes. Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses no black: 2 parts Viridian Green, 1 part Titanium White and 1 part Phthalo Blue.
Cerulean Blue in other mediums
- Cerulean Blue in Oil: 2 parts Viridian Green, 1 part Titanium White and 1 part Phthalo Blue, predicted 97% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
- Cerulean Blue in Watercolor: 2 parts Viridian Green, 1 part Titanium White and 1 part Phthalo Blue, predicted 90% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
Get this recipe for your paint brand
Open the live mixer with Cerulean Blue + acrylic pre-loaded and calibrate to your tubes.
Technique guides for this color
Related mixing guides
Pigment mixing is subtractive, so small ratio changes matter. The mixer refines this recipe to your brand and updates on the fly.