How to Mix Viridian in Oil

A cool, transparent blue-green. The classic mixer for greys and shadows. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #256C5A in oil, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.

Target

Viridian

#256C5A

Mixed result

98% match

From these pigments

#2B6D5B

Pigment recipe

Checked August 2026

Ratios calibrated for oil. 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
51%
2. Titanium White
PW6
44%
3. Raw Umber
PBr7
5%

What colors make Viridian?

Phthalo Blue, Titanium White, and Raw Umber, in roughly a 51:44:5 ratio.

How to make Viridian in oil

Start with Phthalo Blue at about 51% as your oil base, then work in Titanium White and Raw Umber in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #256C5A.

Why mix Viridian instead of buying it

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

Get this recipe for your paint brand

Open the live mixer with Viridian + oil pre-loaded and calibrate to your tubes.

Open in mixer

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.