Pink is a color that many love. It is used in clothing, cake decorations and bouquets, but it is often not possible to find the dye in shops. In truth, it is nothing more than a shade of red and in nature it arises from the combination of red and purple. Fortunately, it's quite easy to create pink for paint, icing, decorations and more by mixing red and white.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Mix Acrylic or Oil Paints
Step 1. Choose the red to work with
Each shade of red produces a particular shade of pink when mixed with white. So, experiment with various types of red as you go. For a brighter, more lasting shade of pink, try permanent alizarin crimson or quinacridone among acrylic paints and mix it with titanium white. With vermilion red you will get a beautiful shade of pure pink; with brick red you will produce a more cloudy pink, similar to peach.
With a darker red, such as alizarin crimson, you can have a pink that turns blue or purple; so it's great for getting a hue like magenta.
Step 2. Pour some red
Grab a canvas, sheet of paper, or palette. Put the red paint. Since it will turn pink, keep it separate from the rest of the colors you are going to use until you have decided which pink to get and how much you need.
Step 3. Add white
Put it next to red. Start with a walnut so as not to waste it. You can always add it while mixing if you need to dilute the red.
Step 4. Mix the colors
Using a special tool, such as a paintbrush or palette knife, blend the white into the red. Start with a small amount to get a feel for the hue that slowly builds up. You can add more white to lighten it, but keep in mind that each red has its own intensity, so at some point you will reach the limit beyond which it is no longer possible to create pink from the red you have chosen.
- The darker the red, the more white you will need to add to lighten the intensity of the pink.
- Try softening the shade of pink by using yellow, so that it turns into peach or salmon.
- If you add blue or purple, pink will approach fuchsia or magenta.
Method 2 of 3: Mix the Watercolors
Step 1. Wet the brush
Dip a clean brush into the water container. Press it against the bottom to separate the bristles, then against the edge to remove excess water.
Step 2. Place red and white on a surface that allows you to mix colors
If you use tube watercolors, let out the amount you need. If you are using watercolors in tablets, you can use the brush to transfer the red to the work surface and mix them.
Step 3. Add the red to the water
If you are using watercolors in tablets, dab the wet brush on the red. Turn it in the water container. Don't dry it when you're done. Push it along the edge of the container once to let the color drain.
Repeat to add more red until the desired intensity is achieved
Step 4. Add the blank to the water container
Dab the wet brush on the white. Turn it in the water container as you did with red. The water will begin to take on a pink hue.
Keep adding more white until you reach the desired pink
Step 5. Mix other colors
Using watercolors in tubes or tablets, you can get different shades of pink, for example by adding a little purple and then yellow or by diluting the red in water without using white. Experiment to find the pink you want.
- If you don't mix white, you'll get a basic pink. It depends on the amount of water you use to dilute the red before it dries.
- To create a softer shade, add yellow. In the end, you will get a peachy pink.
- With a little purple or blue you can have a deep pink. If you increase the amount, you will get closer to magenta.
Method 3 of 3: Get Pink with Food Colors
Step 1. Choose a white substance
You can create pink using icing, glue, or hair conditioner. The amount to use is what you will need in total to get the mixture with the shade of pink you want. Place it in a bowl to mix the ingredients in so that you have enough space to conveniently incorporate the colors.
Step 2. Add the red food coloring
Red food coloring is quite common and can be mixed with a white substance to turn it into a pink paste. The problem with this product is that the color is very intense, so start with a drop first and add it gradually if you need to get a stronger shade. To color a large amount of icing or other substance you will need to pour several drops.
You can also use pink food coloring to lighten the hue of the frosting.
Step 3. Mix well
Use a wooden spoon or other kitchen utensil to mix in the food coloring. Swirl your chosen icing or substance until the dye is evenly distributed to absorb, then add a few more drops as needed.
Step 4. Add other colors
To get the mixture to achieve the desired shade of pink, try adding a few drops of food coloring other than red. Experiment. Work the dough slowly, one drop at a time.
- By using a blue, purple, green or even brown food coloring, you can achieve a darker and warmer shade of pink, tending to fuchsia or magenta.
- If you want it to come close to peachy pink, add a lighter color like yellow.
Advice
- Remember that although it is possible to add more color, it is not possible to remove it. Start using paint or dye in small doses.
- When using paint, always add white to the red you have chosen. This way you won't get too dark a shade and avoid wasting it.
- If you want a lighter pink, put a drop less of red, otherwise if you use too much, you will get a very intense pink.
- The more red you use, the darker the pink will be. The more white you use, the lighter the final result will be.
