Magenta is mostly red but it’s also a bright shade of purplish pink. Sounds complicated?
Relax, it’s not this complicated. Painters sometimes find it difficult to make magenta acrylic paint which is okay because you don’t have to know everything on the earth.
Chances are, you are here to know how to make magenta acrylic paint.

Well, it’s pretty easy to do the job. You can do it in different ways such as mixing baby pink & purple, purple & red Or mixing red, blue & white. But the third option requires following certain steps.
In fact, this article will cover:
- A basic understanding of which type of color magenta is
- 3 different ways to make magenta acrylic paint
- An FAQ section to rub off your questions
- And a whole lot more!
Sounds promising? Stay with us to know the details.
Table of Contents
Which Type of Color Is Magenta?- Basic Understanding
People sometimes get confused about whether magenta is a secondary or tertiary color. It’s because people think that there’s no way to get magenta using only two primary colors. But the truth is, it’s very much possible.
Yes, you can get magenta using only two primary colors so, magenta is a secondary color. It’s more like a reddish-purple, purplish-red, or mauvish-crimson type of color. Magenta is the middle color of red and blue.
But you also can make magenta with secondary colors like pink and purple and others since you can guess that magenta is close to pink and purple.
People even ask, ‘Is magenta pink or purple?’
Well, the finest answer can be, magenta is somewhere between pink and purple or red and purple. Sometimes, I myself confuse magenta with purple or pink. But magenta is composed equally of blue and red like 50% blue and 50% red.
Something worth mentioning here, you can sometimes feel puzzled thinking about ‘are magenta and fuchsia the same color?’. Yes, magenta and fuchsia are the same colors.
In fact, the original inspiration for magenta dye was the flower of the Fuchsia plant. And, then it was renamed magenta.
How to Make Magenta Acrylic Paint?- 3 Different Ways!
So, you’ve known a lot about magenta. Now, it’s time to make the color! You know, you can make magenta acrylic paint in three different ways. Let’s see what’s what!

1. Red, Blue, and White
You won’t get magenta straight by mixing simply red and blue because this mixture will give you violet which is close to magenta but not exactly magenta.
So, what you can do is, follow the formula:
Red + Blue = Violet + Red = Maroon + White = Magenta
So, first of all, mix red and blue, you’ll get violet. After that, add a dash of red to the violet and mix it well. Now, see, you have maroon. Next, add white to maroon and it will start turning to magenta.
Isn’t it simple and great? You only need 3 colors to use and 3 steps to get magenta.
2. Baby Pink & Purple
Mixing baby pink and purple together will also give you the perfect magenta color. To make it happen, start with baby pink and then, add a little bit of purple to it. Now, mix them and add a bit of purple if it’s needed. Keep mixing until you get magenta.
3. Purple and Red
You can also make magenta acrylic paint using purple and red colors. More specifically, choose Alizarin Crimson/ Crimson Lake as the shade of red. Then, firstly take the purple and then add red to it. Next, start mixing them together until you get magenta.
Read More: Full Guide on Making Orange Paint.
Mostly Asked Questions
What is magenta’s complementary color?
Green. And, the complementary pairs of magenta are green-magenta, red-cyan, and blue-yellow.
Is magenta a real color?
Well, you can’t find magenta in the visible spectrum of light because it’s an extra-spectral color. So, it’s more like we psychologically and physiologically perceive magenta as the combination of violet/blue and red.
Is magenta a warm or cool color?
According to the classic color wheel that’s basically divided into warm and cool halves, magenta is cool.
Why do painters say that magenta is a primary color?
Magenta, yellow, and cyan are the primary colors of paint, dyes, and ink. They are basically subtractive colors. It’s because when you start with a white paper (that reflects all light) as well as the pigments you keep adding, absorb the light from reflecting off that paper.
What does the color magenta mean?
It’s the symbol of emotional balance and universal harmony. Magenta promotes kindness, compassion, and cooperation.
Read More: Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Walls?
Final Word
Is the question of making magenta acrylic paint is still bugging you? Since we left no stone unturned to make things clear for you, hopefully, your answer is a big NO.
Magenta is one of the sweetest colors and it’s never hard to make the color. We’ve shared some different ways, try them because you won’t regret it!