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:-)

  

Mixing Tertiary Colors The Easy Way

Phew...I survived the holidays!!!  I can finally get back to doing what I love...mixing up colors.

Last time, we learned about color bias and how to choose the proper "primary" colors to mix all other colors.  Color bias is mainly used for "primary" colors, since pure primary colors don't exist.  However, putting secondary colors (orange, green and violet) into color bias groups can make it easier for you to see the difference between each secondary color. Can you see the dominant "primary" color in each set of secondary colors on the chart?

Secondary colors can lean toward a color bias...this is what is known as a tertiary color.  We already know that we need to mix a "primary" color and a secondary color to get a tertiary color.  But wait...which two colors do we need to mix together?  It really doesn't matter!!!  What I love about creating tertiary colors is that there is no wrong way to mix them...which means no muddy colors.  

Don't forget...you still need to remember your complementary colors, for you don't want to mix those two together unless you plan on making a neutral color (refer to complementary chart).   

Red-Orange (Red + Orange)

Let's say you needed to make a specific tertiary color such as Vermillion.

You need to choose a "primary" red that has an orange bias (refer to "Primary" Color Bias Chart).  When it comes to choosing the right orange, you need not to worry.  Orange already contains red, so any orange will do.  I will let you in on a little secret...it will make life so much easier if you choose the orange that leans towards the red bias.  You won't have to add as much "primary" red to your icing.  We all know red has an aftertaste and can be harmful to our bodies...so it just makes sense to use less of it when possible.  

Take a look at the icing samples below, which two look the closest to Vermillion?  

"Primary" Super Red mixed with oranges
(1) Terracotta  (2) Electric Orange  (3) Orange
(4) Copper  (5) Peach

"Primary" Red Red mixed with oranges
(6) Terracotta  (7) Electric Orange  (8) Orange
(9) Copper  (10) Peach

"Primary" Tulip Red mixed with oranges
(11) Terracotta  (12) Electric Orange  (13) Orange
(14) Copper  (15) Peach

"Primary" Xmas Red mixed with oranges
(16) Terracotta  (17) Electric Orange  (18) Orange
(19) Copper  (20) Peach

"Primary" Holiday Red mixed with oranges
(21) Terracotta  (22) Electric Orange  (23) Orange
(24) Copper  (25) Peach

That is right...#1 and 6 match the Vermillion swatch!  These icing colors are the most accurate because I used an orange biased "primary" red and Terracotta for my secondary color, which is a red biased orange (See Secondary Color Bias Chart above).  If you don't own a food color such as Terracotta you can use any orange and just add more red to your icing.  

Quiz time!!!  Now that you know what two colors will get you the most accurate tertiary color, let's see if you can find all of them for each color below.  The two best answers are listed after each set of icing colors.  Remember what you learned and have fun!!!

Yellow-Orange (Yellow + Orange)

Which two numbers match this Gold?   

"Primary" Lemon Yellow mixed with oranges
(1) Terracotta  (2) Electric Orange  (3) Orange
(4) Copper  (5) Peach

"Primary" Electric Yellow mixed with oranges
(6) Terracotta  (7) Electric Orange  (8) Orange
(9) Copper  (10) Peach

"Primary" Egg Yellow mixed with oranges
(11) Terracotta  (12) Electric Orange  (13) Orange
(14) Copper  (15) Peach

"Primary" Gold mixed with oranges
(16) Terracotta  (17) Electric Orange  (18) Orange
(19) Copper  (20) Peach

Answer: #2 and #8 match the Gold swatch above.     

Yellow-Green (Yellow + Green)

 Which two numbers match this Chartreuse?  

"Primary" Lemon Yellow mixed with greens
(1) Electric Green  (2) Mint Green  (3) Avocado
(4) Leaf Green  (5) Forest Green  (6) Teal

"Primary" Electric Yellow mixed with greens
(7) Electric Green  (8) Mint Green  (9) Avocado
(10) Leaf Green  (11) Forest Green  (12) Teal

"Primary" Egg Yellow mixed with greens
(13) Electric Green  (14) Mint Green  (15) Avocado
(16) Leaf Green  (17) Forest Green  (18) Teal

"Primary" Gold mixed with greens
(19) Electric Green  (20) Mint Green  (21) Avocado
(22) Leaf Green  (23) Forest Green  (24) Teal

Turquoise mixed with 'primary" yellows
(25) Lemon Yellow  (26) Electric Yellow  (27) Egg Yellow
(28) Gold

Answer: #1 and #7 match the Chartreuse swatch above. 

Blue-Green (Blue + Green)

Which two numbers match this Turquoise?

"Primary" Royal Blue mixed with greens
(1) Electric Green  (2) Mint Green (3) Avocado
(4) Leaf Green  (5) Forest Green  (6) Teal

"Primary" Electric Blue mixed with greens
(7) Electric Green  (8) Mint Green  (9) Avocado
(10) Leaf Green  (11) Forest Green  (12) Teal

"Primary" Sky Blue mixed with greens
(13) Electric Green  (14) Mint Green  (15) Avocado
(16) Leaf Green  (17) Forest Green  (18) Teal

"Primary" Navy Blue mixed with greens
(19) Electric Green  (20) Mint Green  (21) Avocado
(22) Leaf Green  (23) Forest Green  (24) Teal

Turquoise mixed with "primary" blues
(25) Royal Blue  (26) Electric Blue  (27) Sky Blue
(28) Navy Blue

Answer: #8 and #10 match the Turquoise swatch above.

Blue-Violet (Blue + Violet)

Which two numbers match this Indigo?

"Primary" Royal Blue mixed with violets
(1) Violet  (2) Regal Purple  (3) Electric Purple

"Primary" Electric Blue mixed with violets
(4) Violet  (5) Regal Purple  (6) Electric Purple

"Primary" Sky Blue mixed with violets
(7) Violet  (8) Regal Purple  (9) Electric Purple

"Primary" Navy Blue mixed with violets
(10) Violet  (11) Regal Purple  (12) Electric Purple

Answer: #1 and #2 match the Indigo swatch above.

Red-Violet (Red + Violet)

Which two numbers match this Mulberry

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

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

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

Answer: #4 and #11 match the Mulberry swatch above.

I hope you got all of them right!!!  Next time I will show you all the colors you can make using your pinks and neutral colors.  

Have a wonderful and colorful week:-)