Paint Mixing Ratio Calculator

Calculate precise paint mixing ratios and amounts needed for your custom colors. Perfect for achieving consistent color mixes and managing paint inventory efficiently.

Common Color Mixes

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Mix Settings

Total Amount Needed

Start with small amounts and adjust ratios as needed. Different paint brands may have slightly different results.

The Challenge of Consistent Color Mixing

Achieving a specific color through paint mixing is one of the most skill-intensive aspects of traditional painting. Unlike digital art where colors are defined by precise numerical values, physical paint mixing involves complex interactions between pigments, binders, and mediums that produce results influenced by pigment load, transparency, and chemical composition. A mixture that looks perfect on the palette can shift dramatically when applied to canvas, and recreating an exact color match across multiple painting sessions or multiple canvases in a series requires meticulous record-keeping. This calculator provides a systematic framework for documenting mixing ratios and calculating precise amounts, transforming color mixing from an imprecise art into a repeatable process.

How Mixing Ratios Work Across Different Paint Types

Mixing ratios express the proportional relationship between colors in a mixture. A 3:1 ratio of blue to white means three parts blue for every one part white, regardless of whether you measure in milliliters, teaspoons, or tube squeezes. However, the practical behavior of ratios varies significantly between paint types. Oil paints mix smoothly and maintain their ratios predictably because the pigments are suspended in a consistent oil medium. Acrylics dry darker than they appear wet, so mixed colors need to be evaluated after drying to confirm accuracy. Watercolors are mixed with varying amounts of water rather than white paint, and their transparency means the paper color influences the final appearance. Gouache behaves similarly to acrylics but dries to a matte, opaque finish that can shift in value. Understanding these medium-specific behaviors helps you interpret calculator results in the context of your chosen paint type.

Scaling Recipes for Different Project Sizes

One of the most practical applications of this calculator is scaling a proven color recipe up or down for different project sizes. If you have perfected a specific skin tone mixture using small test amounts, the calculator can scale those ratios to produce exactly the volume needed for a large canvas without waste or shortage. This is particularly valuable for mural painters, scenic artists, and anyone working on large-scale projects where running out of a custom-mixed color mid-application means visible inconsistency in the finished work. The calculator maintains ratio precision regardless of scale, ensuring that a mixture scaled from 10 milliliters to 500 milliliters produces the same color as the original test batch.

Building a Personal Color Recipe Library

Professional painters often maintain personal libraries of tested color recipes that they can reproduce reliably across projects. By using this calculator to document the exact ratios and amounts for every custom color you mix, you build a reference system that saves time and ensures consistency. Record the paint brand and specific color names alongside the ratios, since pigment formulations vary between manufacturers and even between product lines within the same brand. Note the medium and any additives used, as these affect the final appearance. Over time, this library becomes an invaluable resource that accelerates your workflow, reduces material waste from failed mixing attempts, and allows you to quote projects more accurately because you know exactly how much paint each color requires.

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