Paint Color Mixing Ratios
Calculate paint mixing ratios for custom colors. Parts by volume for two or three paint colors.
Custom Paint Mixing
Custom colors are mixed by combining base paints in precise ratios. A 60:40 mix of white and blue creates a lighter blue than 40:60. Always mix more than you need — recreating an exact custom color later is extremely difficult. Mix thoroughly (3-5 minutes of stirring) to avoid streaking. Test your mix on a scrap piece and let it dry completely before judging — paint changes color significantly as it dries.
Color Mixing Rules
Tinting: Add dark to light, not light to dark. Starting with the lighter color and gradually adding darker paint gives you more control. Complementary mixing: Mixing complementary colors (red+green, blue+orange) creates muddy browns/grays. White: Adding white lightens and slightly desaturates a color. Black: Adding black darkens but can muddy colors — use sparingly (or use a darker shade of the same hue instead).
Professional painters never mix custom colors by feel — they use precise measurements and record the exact ratio. Keep a written record of your custom mix (e.g., "32 oz Color A + 12 oz Color B") so you can reproduce it if needed. Take a photo of the dried result next to the ratio for future reference.
