US Trends

how to make purple

You make purple by combining red and blue, then adjusting the mix to get the exact shade you want.

Basic color formula

  • Start with equal parts red and blue to get a standard purple.
  • If it looks too red, slowly add a little more blue.
  • If it looks too blue, add a little more red.

This works for:

  • Paint (acrylic, poster, gouache, oil).
  • Food coloring (icing, drinks, slime, crafts).

Step‑by‑step: purple with paint

  1. Put a small blob of red and a small blob of blue on your palette.
  1. Mix equal amounts in the middle to get a base purple.
  2. Adjust:
    • For a warmer, magenta‑like purple: add more red.
 * For a cooler, bluish violet: add more blue.
  1. To change value:
    • To make it lighter (lavender): mix in white.
 * To make it darker (deep plum): add a touch of black or a dark blue.

Step‑by‑step: purple with food coloring

  1. Start with your base (water, white icing, batter, glue, etc.).
  1. Add a few drops of red and mix thoroughly.
  2. Add blue one drop at a time , mixing after each drop until you reach the purple you like.
  1. If it goes too far blue, correct with a tiny amount of red, and vice versa.

This “add slowly” approach is popular for cake decorating and slime because it prevents overshooting the color.

Natural ways to make purple

If you want more natural or DIY vibes, you can create purple dyes from plants and foods:

  • Red cabbage :
    • Chop half a red cabbage, simmer in water 30–60 minutes until the water turns blue‑purple, then strain.
* The resulting liquid can dye fabric or be used as a natural colorant.
  • Berries (blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, dark grapes) :
    • Crush or gently heat them to release juice; that juice gives a purple tone for food, drinks, or crafts.

These methods are often used for kid‑friendly crafts, natural Easter eggs, and textile dyeing.

Quick reference table (purple mixing)

[6][4] [4] [4] [4] [4] [4] [1][6] [1] [3][9][1] [9][1]
Goal What to mix Adjustment tips
Basic purple paint Equal parts red + blue paint.More red for warmer; more blue for cooler.
Light purple / lavender Purple + white paint.Add white slowly so it doesn’t turn chalky.
Dark purple Purple + a touch of black or dark blue.Add very small amounts to avoid muddy color.
Purple food color Red food coloring + blue food coloring in a base.Start with red, drip in blue gradually.
Natural purple dye Boiled red cabbage, or berry juice.Longer simmer = deeper shade; straining gives smoother dye.

Tiny color‑theory bonus

Purple sits between red and blue on the color wheel, so any change in the balance of those colors shifts the mood of the purple. Warm reds or cool blues will each give slightly different undertones, which is why two “purples” can feel completely different even with the same basic recipe.

TL;DR: mix red and blue, then tweak amount, add white for light, black/dark blue for depth, or use red cabbage and berries if you want a natural dye.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.