Discussions

One of the most frequently asked questions by beginner artists and curious minds is: what colors make red? It's a great question, especially for those experimenting with mixing paints or exploring color theory.

The truth is, in traditional color theory (RYB model), red is a primary color, which means it cannot be made by mixing other colors. So if you’re asking what colors make red, the direct answer is—none. Red is one of the building blocks along with blue and yellow.

However, in light-based (RGB) or digital color models, red can be created by combining light. For example, in the RGB model, red is a primary color that combines with green and blue to make other hues, but not the other way around.

Still, some artists try to “fake” red tones by mixing magenta with yellow to get a warm red-like hue, though it won’t be pure red.

This forum is a great place to dive deeper into color mixing, share your own experiments, and ask questions like what colors make red in different mediums (paint, light, digital art).