What Colors Make Green

Creating green through color mixing

Basic green creation

• Yellow + Blue: The fundamental combination to answer "what colors make green"
  • Mix 2 parts yellow with 1 part blue to create a medium green shade
  • Adjust the ratio to achieve lighter or darker greens when mixing green

Types of yellows and blues for different greens

• Yellow options for mixing green:

  • Cadmium yellow: Creates warmer greens when combined with blue
  • Lemon yellow: Produces bright, zesty green hues when mixed
  • Saffron yellow: Leads to warmer shades due to its orange tone when making green

• Blue options for creating green:

  • Cobalt blue: Versatile for various green shades when mixed with yellow
  • Ultramarine blue: Good for cooler greens when combined with yellow
  • Cerulean blue: Produces distinct green hues when mixed

Adjusting green shades

• Lightening: Add white to create lighter or pastel greens when mixing
• Darkening: Mix in black for darker green shades
• Muting: Add small amounts of red to reduce brightness when creating green
• Warming: Introduce a touch of yellow for warmer greens
• Cooling: Add more blue for cooler green tones when mixing

Creating specific green shades

Olive green

• Method: Mix basic green (yellow and blue make green) with warm yellow (ochre), then darken with purple
• Alternative: Combine yellow and black, omitting blue to create olive green

Forest green

• Technique: Darken a premixed green with blue or black
• Alternative: Add red or reddish-brown to bright yellow to make forest green

Sage green

• Process: Mix deep warm yellow (citron) with cool blue (slate) or purple, then add white to lighten

Yellow-green

• Method: Combine cool yellow (lemon) with warm blue (ultramarine), using slightly more yellow to create yellow-green
• Adjustment: Add white for brightness or small amounts of red/orange to deepen the yellow-green mix

Digital color creation

• RGB model: In digital art, set RGB values to (0, 255, 0) for pure green
• Yellow-green hue: Use RGB values (127, 255, 0) for a yellow-green shade when mixing digitally

FAQ

What colors make green?

Yellow and blue make green. Combining these two primary colors is the fundamental way to create green. The basic ratio is 2 parts yellow to 1 part blue for a medium green shade.

How do you mix green paint?

To mix green paint, start with yellow and gradually add blue until you achieve the desired shade. Adjust the ratio of yellow to blue for lighter or darker greens. You can also add white to lighten, black to darken, or small amounts of other colors to adjust the tone.

Can you make green without blue?

While yellow and blue are the primary colors that make green, you can create an olive green shade by mixing yellow and black. This method omits blue but still produces a green hue, albeit a darker and more muted version.

What shades of yellow and blue work best for mixing green?

For yellows, cadmium yellow creates warmer greens, lemon yellow produces bright greens, and saffron yellow leads to warmer shades. For blues, cobalt blue is versatile, ultramarine blue is good for cooler greens, and cerulean blue produces distinct green hues.

How can I adjust the shade of green after mixing yellow and blue?

After mixing yellow and blue to make green, you can adjust the shade by adding white to lighten, black to darken, a touch of red to mute, more yellow to warm, or more blue to cool the green. These adjustments allow you to fine-tune your green to the exact shade you desire.