Buzz
Maroon is a deep burgundy red shade that many people love when choosing paint or dye. Like other colors, maroon is a mix of red, blue, and yellow. There isn't an exact ratio for mixing maroon, as the outcome is often determined by the true tones of red, blue, and yellow you use. However, through experimentation, you will learn how to create the maroon color.
Steps
Mixing Maroon
Choose basic red, blue, and yellow paint or dye. Maroon is made by combining red and blue. Yellow is typically used to add a brownish tone when needed. Using standard primary colors is often effective in creating new shades. If you don't use basic colors, you should research online or carefully read the information on the paint or dye bottle to determine if the color is suitable for creating maroon.
- For example, cadmium red already has a yellowish tone. If you mix this with blue and then add yellow, the resulting color will be quite light.
- On the other hand, rose madder is a cool-toned red with a blue undertone. Mixing this with blue will produce a purple shade, so you’ll need to adjust with yellow.
Mix red and blue in a 5:1 ratio. Blue is a darker color, and it can easily overpower red, resulting in a blue-tinged red instead of the true maroon hue. Therefore, you will need a higher proportion of red, using 5 parts red to 1 part blue.
- Add paint gradually to avoid waste. Once you’ve found the correct color ratio, you can mix a larger batch of maroon paint.
Add yellow until the desired maroon color is achieved. The combination of blue and red will create tones ranging from purple to dark brown, depending on the quality of the paint. A touch of yellow can help shift the blue-red mixture to a true maroon shade.
- Start by adding one or two drops of yellow to the mixture and stir well. Keep adding small amounts of yellow until the color turns maroon.
Determine the shade of the paint using white paint. The perfect maroon should have a deep red tone. Since maroon is a dark color, it can be tricky to determine its exact shade. To check the shade, add a small amount of white paint to your maroon mix. The result you see is the paint's shade. However, only test a small amount of the paint instead of adding white to the entire batch, which could alter the color.
- If your maroon has more purple than red, you can adjust by adding yellow paint.
Store the maroon paint using any method you prefer. Use a container to store the paint or dye right after mixing. Since paint needs time to settle and achieve its full color, having a pre-mixed batch will allow you to paint quickly when needed.
- Additionally, make a note of the proportions used and how to adjust them to recreate the maroon shade. This way, you can follow the formula later to make the same color again.
Avoid common mistakes
Test the color first. Don't rush into using the maroon dye or paint immediately. It's important to see how the color will look once dry to ensure it's the shade you want. Dab a small amount of the paint or dye onto a scrap of paper. Allow it to dry, then check if the color is to your liking.
Choose single-pigment colors. When mixing paint, it's best to use paints with a single pigment. Too many pigments can darken the color, so make sure the reds, yellows, and blues you're using are all single-pigment colors.
Add dark color to light color. Lightening a dark color requires more paint, time, and effort. On the other hand, you only need to add a small amount of dark paint to make a light color darker. Start by mixing a lighter maroon, as darkening a light color is always easier.
