MIXING TINTS
Tint mixing is both interesting and profitable, but in order to obtain the best results, first-class materials are very essential. Great care should be exercised in the selection of this material, as the product of one manufacturer often varies, as to shade with that of another manufacture, therefore it is well for the color mixer to make it a rule, never to select colors promiscuously.
With the following colors at hand all known colors may be obtained. Lemon yellow, which is of greenish hue; yellow of orange hue; red with orange hue; red which has a bluish cast. Blue with a reddish tone, also blue with a leaning toward green. A liberal supply of white and some black which does not contain blue.
To produce a pure tint you must first produce a pure base of the primary colors. White, which is a neutral color, does not alter the original hue, it merely pales. In making pure greens from yellow and blue, the yellow and blue should contain none of the primary color red; use a greenish yellow and greenish blue. For pure orange use a yellow and red which contain none of the primary blue; the yellow must be of reddish hue, the red of yellowish cast. Pure violets are made with bluish reds and reddish blues. The red and blue should not contain any of the primary color yellow.
Gray tint is white with black in various proportions. Neutral gray must be mixed from a black which is unadulterated with a mixture of blue. To warm, add a touch of red; to cool, add a small amount of blue. The object in making neutral gray as above mentioned is to make possible a true blending with other colors. For example, a bluish gray is desired, add blue to neutral gray until the exact shade is acquired; for orange gray add a touch of orange, etc., etc.
Primary colors are made neutral by admixture, a medium or neutral yellow is obtained by mixing lemon yellow with orange yellow. The greenish tinge of lemon yellow is absorbed by the reddish tinge of orange yellow. Neutral red and blue is made in the same manner; likewise the blues.
As has been previously mentioned, white when added for tinting purposes does not alter the hues. For example, the result of adding white in any quantity to purplish red is a purplish pink tint, the purple hue will remain.
When warm tints are desired use a warm base. For warm pink select a red of orange hue, a cool pink from bluish red, a neutral pink must be made from a neutral base which is the result of adding primary bluish red and primary yellowish red.