What Color Does Red and Green Make?

If you've ever asked "What color do red and green make?" you've stumbled upon a fantastic question that reveals the fascinating science of color theory. The simple answer is: it depends!

• When you mix red and green light, you get bright yellow.
• When you mix red and green paint, you get a muted, earthy brown.

This difference is not a magic trick; it's the result of two different color mixing systems: the additive model for light and the subtractive model for pigments. Let's break it down.

Mixing Red and Green Light → Yellow

The additive color model applies to anything that emits light, like your computer monitor, smartphone screen, or TV. In this system, the primary colors are Red, Green, and Blue—hence the term RGB. Learn more about RGB vs CMYK color models.

"Additive" means you start with blackness (no light) and add colored light to create other colors. When you add all the primary colors together at full intensity, you get pure white light.

When you mix red and green light, your eyes' photoreceptors are stimulated in a way that your brain perceives as yellow. It's the foundational principle of digital displays and is explained in detail in our Color Theory guide.

Mixing Red and Green Paint/Pigments → Brown or Gray

The subtractive color model applies to physical substances that absorb or reflect light, like paint, ink, or dyes. Here, the primary colors are traditionally taught as Red, Yellow, and Blue (RYB). For printing, the more accurate primaries are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), or CMYK.

"Subtractive" means you start with a white surface (which reflects all light) and add pigments. Each pigment *subtracts* (absorbs) certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. The color you see is the light that's left over.

In this model, red and green are complementary colors. This means they sit opposite each other on the traditional color wheel. When you mix two complementary colors, they effectively cancel each other out, absorbing most of the light and resulting in a neutral, desaturated color like brown, gray, or sometimes a muddy black.

Pro Tip for Artists:

The exact shade of brown you get depends on the bias of your pigments. A warm, orange-red mixed with a cool, blue-green will create a different brown than a cool, magenta-red mixed with a warm, yellow-green.

To achieve a specific brown, you can adjust the proportions. Adding more red will give you a warmer, reddish-brown, while more green will create a cooler, olive-toned brown. For a visual guide on what to expect, check out our interactive Color Mixing Chart.

Additive vs Subtractive Models Explained

Understanding the fundamental difference between additive and subtractive color models is crucial for anyone working with color, whether in digital design, traditional art, or printing.

The key insight is that light behaves differently than pigment. When you combine light wavelengths, they add together (additive). When you combine pigments, each one subtracts certain wavelengths from white light (subtractive).

Applications in Art, Design, and Physics

Understanding this distinction is key for any creator. A web designer will use the red-green-yellow relationship to create vibrant on-screen palettes, perhaps using our Color Palette Generator. A painter will use the same pair to create deep shadows, earthy tones, and rich, neutral grays for their masterpiece.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why do red and green light make yellow but paint makes brown?

This happens because light follows the additive color model (RGB) where wavelengths combine, while paint follows the subtractive model where pigments absorb light. Red and green light wavelengths stimulate our eyes to perceive yellow, but red and green pigments absorb most wavelengths, leaving brown.

2. What's the exact RGB value for red + green = yellow?

When you combine pure red (255,0,0) and pure green (0,255,0) in equal amounts, you get yellow (255,255,0). This is the brightest yellow possible in the RGB color space.

3. How can I mix a cleaner brown with red and green paint?

Start with high-quality, pure pigments. Mix a small amount of green into your red incrementally until you reach the desired shade. Using a palette knife will give you a more consistent mix than a brush. For warmer browns, use more red; for cooler browns, add more green.

4. Why do red and green seem to "vibrate" when placed next to each other?

This optical effect, called simultaneous contrast, occurs because red and green are complementary colors with maximum contrast. The high contrast can cause visual fatigue and make the colors appear to vibrate or pulse at their border.

5. Can I use red and green together in design without the "Christmas effect"?

Yes! Use different shades (like forest green with burgundy), add neutral colors as buffers, vary the proportions significantly, or choose muted versions of both colors. The key is avoiding bright, saturated red and green in equal amounts.

6. What colors work well with the brown made from red and green?

Browns created from red and green pair beautifully with cream, beige, gold, orange, and other earth tones. They also work well with blues for contrast, or with deeper versions of themselves for monochromatic schemes.

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Conclusion: From Yellow Light to Brown Earth

So, what color does red and green make? It’s a dual-identity color combination that can be luminous and bright or deep and earthy. The next time you see a golden-yellow sunset on your screen or mix a perfect shadow for a tree in a painting, you’ll know the color science at play.

Ready to put this knowledge into practice? Try blending colors with our all-in-one Online Color Picker and see what you can create!