What Colors Make Green?
Blue and yellow make green. Adjust the ratio to move between yellow-green and deep forest green.
Blue + Yellow = Green
Blue
1 part
Yellow
1 part
Green
The fundamental mix. More yellow gives lime and chartreuse; more blue gives teal and pine.
Cyan + Yellow = Green
Cyan
1 part
Yellow
1 part
Green
In printing (CMYK) cyan plus yellow makes the brightest, cleanest green.
Adjusting your green
To lighten: Add white or more yellow for mint, sage and pistachio.
To darken: Add a little black or blue for forest and hunter green.
To mute or soften: Add a touch of red (its complement) for olive and muted sage.
Mixing paint vs. mixing light
The recipes above describe subtractive mixing — how paint, ink and pigment behave. Each pigment absorbs part of the spectrum, so the more you add, the darker the mixture gets.
Screens work the opposite way, using additive mixing with red, green and blue light: the more you add, the brighter it gets. With light (RGB), green is a primary — it cannot be mixed from other light colours. Screens emit it directly, e.g. #2E7D32.
Frequently asked about making green
What colors make green?
Blue and yellow make green. Adjust the ratio to move between yellow-green and deep forest green.
What two colors make green?
Blue + Yellow makes green. The fundamental mix. More yellow gives lime and chartreuse; more blue gives teal and pine.
How do you make green lighter or darker?
Add white or more yellow for mint, sage and pistachio. Add a little black or blue for forest and hunter green.
Is mixing green paint the same as mixing green light?
No. Paint mixes subtractively while light mixes additively. With light (RGB), green is a primary — it cannot be mixed from other light colours. Screens emit it directly, e.g. #2E7D32.