There are a few different ways that pink can be turned into purple. The most common is by adding blue to pink paint or dye. Blue is the complementary color to pink on the color wheel, so when blue is mixed with pink, it neutralizes the pink and pushes it toward purple. The amount of blue added will determine how light or dark the resulting purple is. Other options for altering pink to purple include adding red or removing yellow.
Adding Blue
Adding blue is the most straightforward way to turn pink into purple. Here’s a look at how it works:
- Start with a pink paint or dye. The pink can be any saturation, from light pink to fuchsia.
- Add small amounts of blue paint or dye and mix thoroughly. Start with just a touch of blue.
- The more blue you add, the more purple the color will become. Adding just a little blue will give a light purple. Adding more blue will create a vivid violet. Too much blue could eventually turn the mix to a periwinkle blue.
- The blue pigment neutralizes the yellow tones in the pink. Since purple is a mix of red and blue, removing the yellow brings out the purple.
- Pay attention to hue and value as you add blue. Hue refers to the purple color itself. Value refers to how light or dark the purple is. Both can be adjusted with the amount of blue.
This effect works with any medium that uses color pigments or dyes, whether it’s paint, ink, fabric dye, cosmetics, colored pencils, and more. As long as your medium allows you to blend colors, you can turn pink to purple by mixing in blue.
How Much Blue to Add
Deciding how much blue pigment to add depends on the starting color of pink and the shade of purple you want to end up with. Here are some tips:
- Pastel pink only needs a tiny bit of blue to become lavender.
- Hot pink needs more blue to overcome the intensity of the pink.
- Light pink will turn a pale purple with less blue, while fuchsia requires more blue to get to purple.
- Add blue a little at a time and mix thoroughly before judging the color. It’s easy to add too much blue.
- Err on the side of too little blue because you can always add more. Removing excess blue is trickier.
- Aim for a vivid violet? Use more blue. Want a soft lilac? Use less blue.
The starting pink color impacts the amount of blue required. Here’s a table showing rough estimates:
| Starting Pink Color | Blue to Add | Resulting Purple |
|---|---|---|
| Pastel pink | A couple drops | Lavender |
| Baby pink | 1 part blue to 4 parts pink | Lilac |
| Cotton candy pink | 1 part blue to 3 parts pink | Orchid |
| Bubblegum pink | 1 part blue to 2 parts pink | Violet |
| Fuchsia | 1 part blue to 1 part pink | Royal purple |
Adding Red Instead of Blue
Another way to alter pink into purple is by adding red instead of blue. Here’s how it works:
- Start with a bright pink pigment like fuchsia or magenta.
- Add small amounts of red and mix together.
- The more red is added, the more purple the mix becomes.
- This works because purple is a secondary color made by combining red and blue. Pink already contains red and blue.
- Adding more red intensifies the red tones while keeping the blue tones constant. This pushes the color toward purple.
The red has to be a true red without orange tones. Vermilion or crimson work well. Orange-red will not create a pleasing purple.
This technique relies on starting with an intense, saturated pink. Pastel pinks will not shift toward purple using this method. The pigments have to be rich and bold.
One downside is that adding too much red can eventually turn the mix into a brownish maroon color. Getting a true purple requires a balanced hand when adding the red.
Removing Yellow from Pink
Since purple is a mix of red and blue without yellow, removing yellow from pink is another way to reach purple. Here are some options for that:
- Start with a pink pigment and add a touch of green. Green is opposite yellow on the color wheel, so it will neutralize any yellow in the pink.
- For a pink dye, use a purple dye bath rather than blue. The purple absorbs excess yellow from the pink garment.
- With paints or inks, use a yellow reducing agent. These products chemically remove yellow but don’t affect the red or blue.
- Shade pink fabric under a purple light source. This filters out the yellow wavelengths and emphasizes the blue and red.
These techniques work best on lighter pinks with more prominent yellow tones. Dark or muted pinks won’t be affected as much. Too much green or purple can also dull the brightness of the final color.
Best Uses for Turning Pink to Purple
Adjusting pink to purple can produce some beautiful results. Here are some of the best uses for this color conversion:
- Painting: Blend custom purples on your palette by adding blue or red to pink paints. Lightly glaze purple over pink for depth.
- Dyeing: Shift colors on fabric by dyeing pink material in a purple dye bath. Use for upcycling clothes.
- Frosting: Tint pink frosting purple for cake decorating by adding a touch of blue gel dye.
- Cosmetics: Custom blend lipstick or blush colors by mixing pinks and purples.
- Arts & Crafts: Make one pink marker or colored pencil set work for both pink and purple.
- Lighting: Use pink and purple lighting gels to transform the look of a room or stage.
With the right techniques, pink can become the perfect purple. Understanding color theory makes adjusting hues simple and opens up many creative possibilities.
Conclusion
In summary, the primary ways to turn pink into purple are:
- Add blue to pink pigment. More blue equals a darker, richer purple.
- Intensify pink with additional red pigment. Works best on bright pinks.
- Neutralize yellow in pink by adding green or using purple dye. Best for light pinks.
The starting pink color and the amount or type of colorant added will result in different purple hues. With some experimentation, creative practitioners can customize the perfect purple for any project by adjusting a pink base.
