Lighter Gunmetal
#606870
9 parts Titanium White, 6 parts Ultramarine Blue and 2 parts Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 93% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
How to Mix Gunmetal in Watercolor
Quick answer
To mix gunmetal (#4A5259) in watercolor, use 91% Viridian Green, 5% Alizarin Crimson and 4% Yellow Ochre. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% 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
Gunmetal
#4A5259
Predicted dry result
94% match when dryMix to #4A535A while wet. It dries to about #434C55.
| Paint | Pigment | Share | 100 ml batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viridian Green | PG18 | 91% | 91 ml |
| Alizarin Crimson | PR83 | 5% | 5 ml |
| Yellow Ochre | PY43 | 4% | 4 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 dark, cool metallic-look gray. This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #4A5259 in watercolor, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.
Pigment recipe
Checked August 2026
Ratios calibrated for watercolor. 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
91%2. Alizarin Crimson
PR83
5%3. Yellow Ochre
PY43
4%
What colors make Gunmetal?
Viridian Green, Alizarin Crimson, and Yellow Ochre, in roughly a 91:5:4 ratio.
How to make Gunmetal in watercolor
Start with Viridian Green at about 91% as your watercolor base, then work in Alizarin Crimson and Yellow Ochre in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #4A5259.
Why mix Gunmetal instead of buying it
Mixing Gunmetal yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Gunmetal 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
Overshooting on Viridian Green is the usual failure, add it in 5% steps and compare against the target between each pass.
Variations on Gunmetal
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 Gunmetal
#353D43
53% Ultramarine Blue, 43% Yellow Ochre and 4% Alizarin Crimson. Chromilla's model predicts a 95% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Warmer Gunmetal
#4B515A
3 parts Ultramarine Blue, 2 parts Titanium White and 1 part Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Cooler Gunmetal
#4B515A
3 parts Ultramarine Blue, 2 parts Titanium White and 1 part Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
Gunmetal questions
- What two colors make gunmetal?
- Chromilla's watercolor recipe uses 3 tubes rather than two: 91% Viridian Green, 5% Alizarin Crimson and 4% Yellow Ochre. Viridian Green leads the mix. Chromilla's model predicts a 94% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
- How do you make gunmetal paint lighter without losing the hue?
- Re-balance the mix instead of only adding white. For a lighter gunmetal (#606870) in watercolor, Chromilla mixes 9 parts Titanium White, 6 parts Ultramarine Blue and 2 parts Ivory Black. Chromilla's model predicts a 93% dry match against the target, scored against its own color model, not a measured paint-out.
- What is the hex code for gunmetal?
- Chromilla uses #4A5259 as the target for gunmetal. The watercolor recipe is predicted to dry to about #434C55.
- Can I mix gunmetal without black?
- Yes. Chromilla's watercolor recipe uses no black: 91% Viridian Green, 5% Alizarin Crimson and 4% Yellow Ochre.
Gunmetal in other mediums
- Gunmetal in Acrylic: 91% Viridian Green, 5% Alizarin Crimson and 4% Yellow Ochre, predicted 93% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
- Gunmetal in Oil: 91% Viridian Green, 5% Alizarin Crimson and 4% Yellow Ochre, predicted 99% dry match by Chromilla's color model.
Get this recipe for your paint brand
Open the live mixer with Gunmetal + watercolor 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.