Why does prussian 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 #0C3346 is predicted to dry to about #0E2E3D. Dries slightly darker and a touch warmer.

What is the hex code for prussian blue?

Chromilla uses #0F3446 as the target for prussian blue. The acrylic recipe is predicted to dry to about #0E2E3D.

Can I mix prussian blue without black?

Yes. Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses no black: 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre.

How to Mix Prussian Blue in Acrylic

Quick answer

To mix prussian blue (#0F3446) in acrylic, use 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre. Chromilla's model predicts a 95% 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.

Adjust for my paints

Target

Prussian Blue

#0F3446

Predicted dry result

95% match when dry

Mix to #0C3346 while wet. It dries to about #0E2E3D.

Prussian Blue in acrylic: tube ratios, and ml for a 100 ml batch
Paint	Pigment	Parts	Share	100 ml batch
Phthalo Blue	PB15	2	66%	66 ml
Yellow Ochre	PY43	1	34%	34 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 very dark, cool green-shade blue. Rich, staining, glass-like in oil. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #0F3446 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. Phthalo Blue
PB15
66%
2. Yellow Ochre
PY43
34%

What colors make Prussian Blue?

Phthalo Blue and Yellow Ochre, in roughly a 66:34 ratio.

How to make Prussian Blue in acrylic

Start with Phthalo Blue at about 66% as your acrylic base, then work in Yellow Ochre in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #0F3446.

Why mix Prussian Blue instead of buying it

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

Variations on Prussian 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 Prussian Blue

#25495C

6 parts Phthalo Blue, 3 parts Titanium White and 1 part Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 93% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Darker Prussian Blue

#00202F

6 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 93% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Warmer Prussian Blue

#173249

3 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Cooler Prussian Blue

#173249

3 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.

Prussian Blue questions

What two colors make prussian blue?: In acrylic, Phthalo Blue and Yellow Ochre: 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre. Chromilla's model predicts a 95% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
How do you make prussian blue paint lighter without losing the hue?: Re-balance the mix instead of only adding white. For a lighter prussian blue (#25495C) in acrylic, Chromilla mixes 6 parts Phthalo Blue, 3 parts Titanium White and 1 part Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 93% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Why does prussian 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 #0C3346 is predicted to dry to about #0E2E3D. Dries slightly darker and a touch warmer.
What is the hex code for prussian blue?: Chromilla uses #0F3446 as the target for prussian blue. The acrylic recipe is predicted to dry to about #0E2E3D.
Can I mix prussian blue without black?: Yes. Chromilla's acrylic recipe uses no black: 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre.

Prussian Blue in other mediums

Prussian Blue in Oil: 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre, predicted 99% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
Prussian Blue in Watercolor: 2 parts Phthalo Blue to 1 part Yellow Ochre, predicted 96% dry match by Chromilla's color model.

Get this recipe for your paint brand

Open the live mixer with Prussian 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.