Blue is a primary color and cannot be created by mixing other colors in the traditional RGB or RYB color models. However, in the CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) color model used in printing, blue can be made by mixing cyan and magenta pigments. For paint mixing, to achieve the color blue or various shades of blue, the starting point is usually a blue pigment like ultramarine or cobalt blue. To make different shades or tints of blue, you can mix blue with white (to lighten) or mix with darker colors or other pigments (like purple, green, or brown) to alter its hue and darkness. Summary:
- Blue is a primary color and generally cannot be mixed from other traditional colors.
- In printing pigments (CMY), blue can be made by mixing cyan and magenta.
- Use ultramarine blue or cobalt blue to start for paint.
- Mix with white to make lighter blues.
- Mix with dioxazine purple or burnt umber to make darker or muted blues.
- Mix with green (cadmium green or pthalo green) to get turquoise or greenish blues.
Thus, if the question is how to "make blue" paint or color, typically you start with a pure blue pigment and then mix for shade and tone adjustments rather than creating pure blue from scratch by mixing other paints.
If a practical method to create blue using pigments is needed, mixing cyan and magenta can yield blue.
