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Mix Two Colors

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Gradient Steps

Frequently asked questions

How is a color mix calculated?

By interpolating each channel: mixing two colors at 50% gives ((R1+R2)/2, (G1+G2)/2, (B1+B2)/2) for an RGB mix. Mixing in a perceptual space such as OKLab instead produces a result closer to how the blend appears to the eye.

Why does mixing two colors give a muddy result?

RGB mixing passes through desaturated midpoints, so mixing complementary hues lands near grey. That is a property of the color model, not a bug; add a third color, or mix in a perceptual space to keep chroma.

What is the difference between mixing light and mixing paint?

Light is additive: red plus green gives yellow. Paint is subtractive: red plus green gives a dark brown. Screens mix light, so an RGB mixer follows the additive rule.