Pink . . . Making The "Impossible" Possible

Magenta and Coral and Fuchsia...OH MY!!!  Does the thought of these colors make you want to throw in the icing bag?   Well...you're not the only one!  I'm pretty sure we have all been asked to make cookies using these colors and they can be pretty tricky to mix, especially if you aren't familiar with the color term.  So, let's talk about them and put the fear of mixing those colors behind us.

Magenta and Fuchsia...what in the world is the difference between the two?  The fuchsia flower originally inspired both colors and it can range in color from violet to red to pink.

Variations of Magenta and Fuchsia

In the world of computers and televisions, Magenta and Fuchsia are identical colors that use equal parts of red and blue light...the color names are interchangeable in the web world.  

Web Color Magenta/Fuchsia

However in printing, Magenta ink (also known as Process Magenta) is a more reddish purple.

Process Magenta Ink

It is difficult to print the web color Magenta/Fuchsia and have it come out looking as vivid as we see on the computer screen.  
When it prints on paper it comes out more purple, so they gave that color the name Fuchsia.

I say...if a customer asks you for one of these colors, give them a swatch to approve before you mix and decorate or have them send you a swatch to match.  It will save you from a world of trouble!!!  

Coral...a color that got it's name from the plant-like sea animal, is a reddish or pinkish shade of orange.  This color I find to be one of the easiest to mix because you can use reds, oranges, yellows and pinks.  
The possibilities are endless!!!  OK maybe not endless, but at least you're not limited to the colors you can use.  There really is no right or wrong way to make Coral.  Don't worry...the Color Police won't come take you away in the paddy wagon if you do it your own way.  Just have fun with it!!!

Variations of Coral (Left to Right)
Coral Red, Dark Coral, Light Coral and Coral

Below are some icing samples using different shades of pink food coloring mixed with various shades of the six basic colors.  Test yourself by trying to match the color swatches (above) to the correct icing samples (below).  The more you train your eyes to see color correctly, the better you will be at mixing the colors.  Give it a try!!!

Pinks/Corals (Pink + Red)

Soft Pink mixed with "primary" reds
(1) Super Red  (2) Red Red  (3) Tulip Red
(4) Xmas Red  (5) Holiday Red  (6) Burgundy 

Deep Pink mixed with "primary" reds
(7) Super Red  (8) Red Red  (9) Tulip Red
(10) Xmas Red  (11) Holiday Red  (12) Burgundy 

Electric Pink mixed with "primary" reds
(13) Super Red  (14) Red Red  (15) Tulip Red
(16) Xmas Red  (17) Holiday Red  (18) Burgundy

Dusty Rose mixed with "primary" reds
(19) Super Red  (20) Red Red  (21) Tulip Red
(22) Xmas Red  (23) Holiday Red  (24) Burgundy

Fuchsia mixed with "primary" reds
(25) Super Red  (26) Red Red  (27) Tulip Red
(28) Xmas Red  (29) Holiday Red  (30) Burgundy

Mauve mixed with "primary" reds
(31) Super Red  (32) Red Red  (33) Tulip Red
(34) Xmas Red  (35) Holiday Red  (36) Burgundy

Pinks/Corals (Pink + Orange) 

Soft Pink mixed with oranges
(1) Terracotta  (2) Electric Orange  (3) Orange
(4) Copper  (5) Peach

Deep Pink mixed with oranges
(6) Terracotta  (7) Electric Orange  (8) Orange
(9) Copper  (10) Peach   

Electric Pink mixed with oranges
(11) Terracotta  (12) Electric Orange  (13) Orange
(14) Copper  (15) Peach

Dusty Rose mixed with oranges
(16) Terracotta  (17) Electric Orange  (18) Orange
(19) Copper  (20) Peach

Fuchsia mixed with oranges
(21) Terracotta  (22) Electric Orange  (23) Orange
(24) Copper  (25) Peach

Mauve mixed with oranges
(26) Terracotta  (27) Electric Orange  (28) Orange
(29) Copper  (25) Peach

Pinks/Corals (Pink + Yellow) 

Lemon Yellow mixed with pinks
(1) Soft Pink  (2) Deep Pink  (3) Electric Pink
(4) Dusty Rose  (5) Fuchsia  (6) Mauve

Electric Yellow mixed with pinks
(7) Soft Pink  (8) Deep Pink  (9) Electric Pink
(10) Dusty Rose  (11) Fuchsia  (12) Mauve

Egg Yellow mixed with pinks
(13) Soft Pink  (14) Deep Pink  (15) Electric Pink
(16) Dusty Rose  (17) Fuchsia  (18) Mauve

Gold mixed with pinks
(19) Soft Pink  (20) Deep Pink  (21) Electric Pink
(22) Dusty Rose  (23) Fuchsia  (24) Mauve

Pinks/Violets (Pink + Green) 

Soft Pink mixed with greens
(1) Electric Green  (2) Mint Green  (3) Avocado
(4) Leaf Green  (5) Forest Green  (6) Teal

Deep Pink mixed with greens
(7) Electric Green  (8) Mint Green  (9) Avocado
(10) Leaf Green  (11) Forest Green  (12) Teal

Electric Pink mixed with greens
(13) Electric Green  (14) Mint Green  (15) Avocado
(16) Leaf Green  (17) Forest Green  (18) Teal

Dusty Rose mixed with greens
(19) Electric Green  (20) Mint Green  (21) Avocado
(22) Leaf Green  (23) Forest Green  (24) Teal 

Fuchsia mixed with greens
(25) Electric Green  (26) Mint Green  (27) Avocado
(28) Leaf Green  (29) Forest Green  (30) Teal 

Mauve mixed with greens
(31) Electric Green  (32) Mint Green  (33) Avocado
(34) Leaf Green  (35) Forest Green  (36) Teal 

Turquoise mixed with pinks
(37) Soft Pink  (38) Deep Pink  (39) Electric Pink
(40) Dusty Rose  (41) Fuchsia  (42) Mauve

Pinks/Violets (Pink + Blue) 

Royal Blue mixed with pinks
(1) Soft Pink  (2) Deep Pink  (3) Electric Pink
(4) Dusty Rose  (5) Fuchsia  (6) Mauve 

Electric Blue mixed with pinks
(7) Soft Pink  (8) Deep Pink  (9) Electric Pink
(10) Dusty Rose  (11) Fuchsia  (12) Mauve

Sky Blue mixed with pinks
(13) Soft Pink  (14) Deep Pink  (15) Electric Pink
(16) Dusty Rose  (17) Fuchsia  (18) Mauve 

Navy Blue mixed pinks
(19) Soft Pink  (20) Deep Pink  (21) Electric Pink
(22) Dusty Rose  (23) Fuchsia  (24) Mauve

Pinks/Violets (Pink + Violet) 

Violet mixed with pinks
(1) Soft Pink  (2) Deep Pink  (3) Electric Pink
(4) Dusty Rose  (5) Fuchsia  (6) Mauve

Regal Purple mixed with pinks
(7) Soft Pink  (8) Deep Pink  (9) Electric Pink
(10) Dusty Rose  (11) Fuchsia  (12) Mauve 

Electric Purple mixed with pinks
(13) Soft Pink  (14) Deep Pink  (15) Electric Pink
(16) Dusty Rose  (17) Fuchsia  (18) Mauve

Pinks (Pink + Pink) 

Soft Pink mixed with pinks
(1) Deep Pink  (2) Electric Pink  (3) Dusty Rose
(4) Fuchsia  (5) Mauve 

Deep Pink mixed with pinks
(6) Electric Pink  (7) Dusty Rose  (8) Fuchsia
(9) Mauve

Electric Pink mixed with pinks
(10) Dusty Rose  (11) Fuchsia  (12) Mauve

Dusty Rose mixed with pinks
(13) Fuchsia  (14) Mauve 

Fuchsia mixed with pinks
(15) Mauve

So there you have it...184 more colors you can make just using pink!!!  The next time you are asked to make a color that intimates you...have no fear, for the answer is right here.  

Have a wonderful and colorful week:-)