How to Mix Denim Blue in Watercolor

A muted, greyed denim blue. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #4A6588 in watercolour, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.

Target

Denim Blue

#4A6588

Mixed result

97% match

From these pigments

#48658E

Pigment recipe

Ratios calibrated for watercolour. Start with the dominant pigment, add the modifiers in the order below, and adjust in 5% steps to your target swatch.

1. Titanium White
PW6
58%
2. Alizarin Crimson
PR83
21%
3. Phthalo Blue
PB15
21%

What colours make Denim Blue?

Titanium White, Alizarin Crimson, and Phthalo Blue, in roughly a 58:21:21 ratio.

How to make Denim Blue in watercolour

Start with Titanium White at about 58% as your watercolour base, then work in Alizarin Crimson and Phthalo Blue in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #4A6588.

Why mix Denim Blue instead of buying it

Mixing Denim Blue yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Denim Blue across paint brands whose factory tubes differ, and rebuild the exact colour 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 Denim Blue + watercolour 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.