What Colors Make Black?

#171717

In paint

In paint, mixing all three primaries (or any two complementary colors) together gets you close to black, though it usually comes out as a dark, muddy brown rather than a true, clean black.

In light (RGB)

In light (RGB), black isn't a mix at all, it's the absence of light. Turn red, green, and blue all the way down to zero and you get black, not by adding anything, but by adding nothing.

For a genuinely clean black in paint or print, most people reach for a dedicated black pigment rather than trying to mix one from color primaries.
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Black FAQ

What colors make black in paint?

In paint, mixing all three primaries (or any two complementary colors) together gets you close to black, though it usually comes out as a dark, muddy brown rather than a true, clean black.

What colors make black in light (RGB)?

In light (RGB), black isn't a mix at all, it's the absence of light. Turn red, green, and blue all the way down to zero and you get black, not by adding anything, but by adding nothing.