It is not difficult to make yellow of the desired shade if you know in what proportions to mix other paints, regarding their type and consistency. Yellow is one of the basic colors of coloristics, so it is always present in a set of paints. However, quite often there is a situation when you need to make a certain shade.
Theory of obtaining yellow color from other colors
There are at least 3 basic (or primary) tones: yellow, blue and red. Each of them is unique, and when combined correctly, allows you to create secondary, tertiary and subsequent colors.
Yellow paints have a number of features:
- color purity;
- saturation and transparency;
- stability during mixing;
- The composition contains only 1 pigment.
It is impossible to make a natural yellow color by combining other tones, but it is possible to make it a little darker or lighter by diluting it with white or combining it with dark paints. Proper tinting will allow you to create unique shades.
Different types of paints have different physical properties, which means they combine differently. To make a homogeneous mass, pigments must be thoroughly mixed and diluted with a special solution or water.
How to get yellow color from water paints
Gouache, watercolor, tempera and acrylic paints are considered water-soluble. Depending on the type chosen, a palette, album sheet or separate container is used to combine colors. The proportions are selected according to the selected shade.
You can make yellow from water-soluble paints by combining orange and green tones in a 1:1 ratio. The result will be a dark yellow shade (closer to green).
The remaining shades are produced by merging 2 or more tones in individual proportions. Initially, a yellow or white base is taken, into which drops of another color are gradually added.
How to Make Yellow from Oil Paints
Creating yellow from paint that is noticeably different in structure from the others is not an easy task. Since oil paint is highly viscous, this significantly hinders the process of combining several colors.
These difficulties are especially reflected in light tones. During tinting, particles of a different color may remain in the bulk that have not completely dissolved.
Long and thorough mixing is required to obtain a pure tone without streaks. Special solvents help to simplify the task, which make the paint structure less viscous.
Features of obtaining shades of yellow
You can make yellow from paints of different shades. The palette is multifaceted and universal. The color spectrum is so wide that it will satisfy the imagination of any designer or artist. More than 130 shades are known, but some are especially popular.
Golden
The golden shade of yellow is obtained by combining basic yellow with orange, and adding ocher.
Widely used for painting icons.
Straw
The straw shade of yellow is obtained by combining pure yellow with white and brown. The composition is dominated by light tones.
Wax
The waxy yellow shade is created similarly to the straw shade - by combining yellow with brown and white, but using a different technology. A few drops of brown paint are added to the white base, then yellow is gradually introduced until the desired result is achieved.
Light bronze
This shade is made by merging 3 colors.
Red color is added to the yellow base, then a few drops of green. Excessive amount of green color will make a dirty, swampy color instead of bronze.
Citric
Lemon is a popular and sought-after shade. It is obtained by combining pure yellow, white and green colors. In this case, yellow and green tones predominate in the mixture.
Acid
The bright acid tone consists of the same colors, but unlike the lemon shade, it is made differently.
Green tone is added to the white base, and then yellow is gradually introduced. The mass is stirred until the desired shade is obtained.
Tangerine
Tangerine is a rich and saturated color. It is obtained by combining pure yellow with brown and red tones.
Pumpkin
The classic pumpkin color is a calm and cozy shade. It is formed by the fusion of yellow and red with black.
Dark tangerine
The proportions for creating this tone are similar to the composition of the tangerine shade, but contain more brown. The exact proportions for making shades are presented in the table.
Color mixing chart for creating yellow and its shades:
| Matching tones | Proportions | The resulting shade |
| yellow + ocher + orange | 1:1:0.5 | golden |
| yellow + white + brown | 1:1:0.2 | straw |
| white + brown + yellow | 1:1:0.5 | wax |
| yellow + red + green | 4:2:0.2 | light bronze |
| yellow + white + green | 4:1:0.5 | citric |
| white + green + yellow | 4:2:0.5 | acid |
| yellow + red + brown | 2:1:0.2 | tangerine |
| yellow + red + black | 4:2:0.2 | pumpkin |
| yellow + red + brown | 2:1:0.5 | dark tangerine |
How to make yellow color from gouache paints
Making yellow from paints with a thick and dense consistency, like gouache, is not an easy task. Two colors may not be enough to do it. For example, a mustard shade requires a combination of the main yellow, red, black and green tones.
You can create a mustard shade in the following way:
- Apply a yellow base onto the palette.
- Take a thin brush, pick up a small amount of drops of red color and apply it to the base.
- Mix until a uniform, homogeneous mass is obtained.
- Then add a little black color. Stir thoroughly.
- Green color is added last in the smallest quantity.
- Bring all contents to a homogeneous mass. Add more green coloring as needed.
The proportion looks like this – 4:2:1:0.2 (yellow + red + black + green). To correct a color that is too dark, you need to add white.
How to Make Yellow Color with Acrylic Paints
Despite the thick consistency, acrylic paints lend themselves well to tinting, due to which they are capable of producing a rich range of color spectrum. Yellow tone in a set with acrylic is also basic.
It is first applied to the palette, then gradually mixed with other colors:
- to obtain a darker shade, add a black tone;
- to get lemon or acidic taste - a few drops of green;
- The mustard shade is achieved by combining it with brown;
- golden and bright yellow (tangerine) - with brown and red colors.
You can make a tangerine shade as follows:
- Place the yellow base on the palette.
- Add a little red.
- Stir the contents.
- Make a preliminary stroke and wait until it dries (after drying, the paint may change color).
- Rinse the brush thoroughly with water.
- Add some brown color.
- Stir thoroughly.
- Make another preliminary smear.
- Wait until dry.
The proportion is 4:1:02 (yellow + red + brown). For independent interior work, you can create yellow acrylic paint experimentally: the color is dosed into a white base, then mixed until the desired shade is obtained.
With proper tinting, it is easy to obtain a shade that is 100% suitable for an individual design.
How to make yellow color from watercolor paints
Watercolor is a watery paint that produces light, translucent tones. The paint is mixed on a palette and placed on an album sheet, where it is clearly visible whether the desired yellow shade has been achieved. A more saturated color is achieved by superimposing several layers on top of each other.
A standard watercolor set already contains pure yellow and 3 of its shades. Most often, this is straw, wax and saffron tone. No less popular is the golden shade, which is less common, so you have to create it yourself.
How to create a golden hue is described below:
- Apply a yellow base onto a clean palette.
- Using a thin brush, take a few drops of red color.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Place the contents on a sheet of paper.
- Add red as needed (introduce gradually, in small doses, otherwise instead of golden you will get a dirty brownish shade)
The proportion is 9:1 (yellow + red). To create a more noble color, you need to add white. In this case, the red tone is introduced last.
How to make yellow color from gel polish paints
Nail experts call yellow a harmful color because it tends to lay unevenly, leaving noticeable stripes, and to dry poorly. Much depends on the quality of the material.
It is possible to make yellow from paints of such a complex chemical composition. By mixing primary and secondary colors of gel polish, then secondary and tertiary, you can invent absolutely any shade.
You can make a bright yellow sunny shade like this:
- Place a basic yellow tone on the palette.
- Add a little red.
- Mix carefully until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
- Add a little primary yellow to the resulting secondary orange color.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Apply the shade to the sample (imitation nail).
- Keep under a UV lamp at a temperature of 48 degrees until completely dry (about 1 min).
Proportions – 9:1 (yellow + orange); 9:1 (orange + yellow). During the mixing process, a low-quality composition may bubble, so it is necessary to stir carefully and evenly.
Colorist Advice
Recommendations for creating flowers:
- Water-soluble paints (except tempera and acrylic) can be revived by diluting with water.
- The tempera must be tightly closed after each use, otherwise the paint becomes rubber-like and unsuitable for further use.
- After working with oil paint, it is advisable to clean the brushes immediately (using linseed oil and soap, or special products). Otherwise, you will have to soak the tool in the solvent for a long time.
- Bright tones of gel polish are made more muted with the addition of warm gray. To make the manicure brighter, you can mix the composition with mother-of-pearl and glitter.
- When working with any type of paint, to dilute a shade that is too dark, it is advisable to place white in the center of the palette.
Yellow, according to psychologists, radiates not only warmth, but also joy. It is widely used in fine art and in the implementation of bright design projects. Paint with a golden tint is often used in icon painting.
Each shade of yellow is distinguished by its originality and wide color range, will decorate any interior, will help to make it original and cheerful.
Video about creating color
How to make yellow color from paints: