Chromilla paint mixing tool

How to Mix Ocean Blue in Acrylic

Quick answer

To mix ocean blue (#2C6A82) in acrylic, use 11 parts Phthalo Blue, 8 parts Titanium White and 1 part Raw Umber. Chromilla's model predicts a 90% 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.

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Target

Ocean Blue

#2C6A82

Predicted dry result

90% match when dry

Mix to #276982 while wet. It dries to about #265F73.

Ocean Blue in acrylic: tube ratios, and ml for a 100 ml batch
PaintPigmentPartsShare100 ml batch
Phthalo BluePB151155%55 ml
Titanium WhitePW6840%40 ml
Raw UmberPBr715%5 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 deep teal-blue. Slightly green-leaning, reads like open water. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #2C6A82 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. 1. Phthalo Blue

    PB15

    55%

  2. 2. Titanium White

    PW6

    40%

  3. 3. Raw Umber

    PBr7

    5%

What colors make Ocean Blue?

Phthalo Blue, Titanium White, and Raw Umber, in roughly a 55:40:5 ratio.

How to make Ocean Blue in acrylic

Start with Phthalo Blue at about 55% as your acrylic base, then work in Titanium White and Raw Umber in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #2C6A82.

Why mix Ocean Blue instead of buying it

Mixing Ocean Blue yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Ocean 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 Ocean 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.

Lighter Ocean Blue

#45829A

63% Titanium White, 32% Phthalo Blue and 5% Cadmium Red. Chromilla's model predicts an 89% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Darker Ocean Blue

#0F536A

7 parts Phthalo Blue, 4 parts Yellow Ochre and 2 parts Titanium White. Chromilla's model predicts a 92% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Warmer Ocean Blue

#366787

53% Phthalo Blue, 42% Titanium White and 5% Cadmium Red. Chromilla's model predicts a 90% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Cooler Ocean Blue

#366787

53% Phthalo Blue, 42% Titanium White and 5% Cadmium Red. Chromilla's model predicts a 90% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Ocean Blue questions

What two colors make ocean blue?
Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses 3 tubes rather than two: 11 parts Phthalo Blue, 8 parts Titanium White and 1 part Raw Umber. Phthalo Blue leads the mix. Chromilla's model predicts a 90% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
How do you make ocean blue paint lighter without losing the hue?
Re-balance the mix instead of only adding white. For a lighter ocean blue (#45829A) in acrylic, Chromilla mixes 63% Titanium White, 32% Phthalo Blue and 5% Cadmium Red. Chromilla's model predicts an 89% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Why does ocean 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 #276982 is predicted to dry to about #265F73. Dries slightly darker and a touch warmer.
What is the hex code for ocean blue?
Chromilla uses #2C6A82 as the target for ocean blue. The acrylic recipe is predicted to dry to about #265F73.
Can I mix ocean blue without black?
Yes. Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses no black: 11 parts Phthalo Blue, 8 parts Titanium White and 1 part Raw Umber.

Ocean Blue in other mediums

  • Ocean Blue in Oil: 11 parts Phthalo Blue, 8 parts Titanium White and 1 part Raw Umber, predicted 99% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
  • Ocean Blue in Watercolor: 11 parts Phthalo Blue, 8 parts Titanium White and 1 part Raw Umber, predicted 92% dry match by Chromilla's color model.

Get this recipe for your paint brand

Open the live mixer with Ocean Blue + acrylic pre-loaded and calibrate to your tubes.

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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.