Color mixing results vary based on ink brands, skin type, and application technique. These formulas are guidelines - always test colors on practice skin before use on clients. Color preview is approximate and may not match actual result. Professional judgment and experience are essential.
1 Select Colors to Mix
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Professional Formula Library
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Skin Tones
Portrait Details
Grays & Neutrals
Landscape Colors
Skin Tone Mixing Guide
Select skin tone type to get base, highlight, and shadow formulas
Gray Wash Calculator
Calculate precise black-to-water ratios for any gray value
Quick Gray Shade Ladder
Click any shade to calculate formula
Color Theory for Tattoo Artists
🎨 Primary Colors
Red
Strong tinting power. Mix with yellow for oranges, blue for purples.
Yellow
Weakest opacity. Need 2-3x more than other colors. Mix with blue for greens.
Blue
STRONGEST color. Add in tiny amounts - very easy to overpower mixes.
🎡 Secondary Colors
Orange
Red + Yellow (1:1). Add white for peach, black for brown.
Green
Blue + Yellow (1:2). More blue = cooler, more yellow = warmer.
Purple
Blue + Red (2:1). Strong color, use sparingly.
⚫⚪ Neutrals
Black
Very strong - overpowers easily. Add in tiny amounts to darken/mute colors.
White
Lightens and desaturates. Creates tints and pastels. Can look chalky if overused.
💡 Color Theory Tips
🎯 Complementary Colors
Opposite colors neutralize each other. Red + Green = Brown. Blue + Orange = Gray-brown.
🌡️ Warm vs Cool
Warm: Red, yellow, orange. Cool: Blue, purple, green. Add tiny bit of cool to warm for neutral.
🎨 Creating Skin Tones
Base: White + Yellow + Red + touch of Blue. Adjust yellow for warmth, red for rosiness.
🌫️ Muting Colors
Add complementary color or tiny bit of black to reduce vibrancy.
⚡ Tinting Strength
Strongest to weakest: Blue > Black > Red > Purple > Green > Orange > White > Yellow.
🧪 Always Test First
Mix small batches and test on practice skin. Skin type and technique affect final color.