- WordPress Web Design Agency
- What Are Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors?
- What Two Colors Make Blue?
- How To Make Blue In Different Design Color Models
- What Colors Make Shades of Blue in Web Design?
- Blue in Color Schemes
- Colors of Blue in Web Design
- 11 Lesser-known Shades of Blue in Web Design
- Hire a WordPress Designer
- Let’s Collaborate
Did you know that blue is the most popular color used in web design, yet many still wonder—what colors make blue? Blue seems untouchable as one of the primary colors, yet color theory shows there’s more to it than meets the eye.
In this blog, we’ll explore the science behind how to make blue in web design, debunking the myth that it can’t be created and how it appears in different color models like RGB and CMYK. You’ll also discover how to create shades of blue, explore its role in web design, and uncover lesser-known hues that can elevate your next design project. Let’s get started!
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What Are Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors?
In color theory, colors are categorized into three groups: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary colors are the foundation of all other colors. Red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors, and they cannot be created by mixing other colors. These three form the foundation for creating all other colors.
Secondary colors are formed by mixing two primary colors. For example, combining red and yellow gives you orange, while blue and yellow create green. These secondary colors fill in the next layer of the color wheel.
Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary color. For example, blue mixed with green creates teal and blue combined with purple makes indigo. This process expands the color spectrum, offering more flexibility for creating custom hues in design.
Understanding these color groups provides the foundation for creating more complex shades and variations in design.
What Two Colors Make Blue?
While blue is a primary color, it can actually be produced by blending magenta and cyan in equal parts. Cyan is a greenish blue used in the CYMK palette, and magenta is purple-red. Blending cyan and magenta is how modern CYMK printers make the blue most of us are familiar with today. However, you could argue that cyan alone is already a kind of blue.
If you’re wondering how to make blue in various design settings, you should know how different models work. Understanding what two colors make blue can give you greater control when working with color in your web designs, especially when adjusting hues for specific projects.
How To Make Blue In Different Design Color Models
Blue behaves differently across various color models, each offering unique ways to manipulate the color and create different shades. Here’s how blue is treated in three major models.
RGB Color Model
In the RGB model, used primarily in digital design, blue is one of the three primary colors, along with red and green. You don’t need to mix anything to make blue in this model—it’s a base color. However, by adjusting the levels of red and green light, you can create different shades. For example, increasing the intensity of green while keeping red low can give you teal while reducing both red and green can result in darker shades like navy. Knowing how to make blue in RGB allows you to control what two colors make dark blue by tweaking light combinations.
CMYK Color Model
In the CMYK model, which is used for printing, blue is not a primary color. Instead, it’s created by mixing cyan and magenta. The proportion of these two colors determines the specific shade of blue. For example, a higher concentration of cyan produces a lighter blue, while more magenta results in a deeper, richer tone. So, when you ask what two colors make blue in CMYK, the answer lies in the balance between these two shades.
HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) Model
The HSB model focuses on how colors are perceived in terms of hue, saturation, and brightness. To create blue in this model, you start by setting the hue to around 240°, which corresponds to blue on the color wheel. From there, adjusting the saturation and brightness will give you different shades of blue. Higher saturation produces more vibrant blues, while lowering the brightness gives you darker tones, which answers the question of what two colors make dark blue in the HSB model—simply adjusting brightness and saturation levels can create rich, deep blues.
What Colors Make Shades of Blue in Web Design?
Creating various shades of blue for web design involves adjusting the RGB values and using hex codes to fine-tune the color temperature. Let’s break down how you can create both warmer and cooler shades of blue by mixing specific amounts of colors.
How to Make Warmer Color Blue Shades in Web Design
Warmer blue shades often have a touch of red or yellow to give them a more inviting tone. Here are five shades and how you can create them:
- Cornflower Blue
- RGB: (100, 149, 237)
- Hex: #6495ED
- Mixing: Start with blue (0, 0, 255) and add red (100) and green (149) to warm it up slightly.
- Steel Blue
- RGB: (70, 130, 180)
- Hex: #4682B4
- Mixing: Begin with blue (0, 0, 255) and mix in red (70) and green (130) for a muted warmth.
- Light Slate Blue
- RGB: (132, 112, 255)
- Hex: #8470FF
- Mixing: Take blue (0, 0, 255), add red (132) and a slight touch of green (112) to get this soft, warm shade.
- Slate Blue
- RGB: (106, 90, 205)
- Hex: #6A5ACD
- Mixing: Mix blue (0, 0, 255) with red (106) and green (90) for a darker, warmer shade of blue.
- Royal Blue
- RGB: (65, 105, 225)
- Hex: #4169E1
- Mixing: Start with blue (0, 0, 255) and add red (65) and green (105) for a deeper, more royal tone.
How to Make Cooler Color Blue Shades in Web Design
Cooler blue shades introduce more green or cyan, enhancing the chill in the blue. Here are five shades and their mixing formulas:
- Sky Blue
- RGB: (135, 206, 235)
- Hex: #87CEEB
- Mixing: Take blue (0, 0, 255) and mix in green (206) and a bit of red (135) to achieve this cool, airy shade.
- Teal Blue
- RGB: (0, 128, 128)
- Hex: #008080
- Mixing: Start with blue (0, 0, 255) and mix in equal parts of green (128) to cool the tone and make it deeper.
- Turquoise
- RGB: (64, 224, 208)
- Hex: #40E0D0
- Mixing: Begin with blue (0, 0, 255), add green (224) and a hint of red (64) for a cool, vibrant shade.
- Deep Cyan
- RGB: (0, 139, 139)
- Hex: #008B8B
- Mixing: Use blue (0, 0, 255) with cyan (139) to cool down the tone for a deeper, refreshing color.
- Cadet Blue
- RGB: (95, 158, 160)
- Hex: #5F9EA0
- Mixing: Start with blue (0, 0, 255), add green (158) and red (95) to get this muted, cool shade.
By adjusting these RGB values and hex codes, you can manipulate what colors make blue in warmer and cooler directions to suit your web design needs. Whether you’re looking to create a welcoming feel or a crisp, modern look, knowing how to make blue shades is a valuable tool for any designer.
Blue in Color Schemes
Using blue effectively in web design requires understanding how it interacts with other colors. Let’s take a look at the color schemes and how blue can be incorporated for various design effects.
Complementary Colors
- What It Is: Complementary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. For blue, the complementary color is orange.
- Why Use It: This color scheme creates a high contrast, making elements stand out. It’s perfect for highlighting important features, such as calls to action, by drawing users’ attention quickly. The contrast makes the page visually engaging without overwhelming the user.
- Example: AWeber uses a sky blue and black palette complemented by orange call-to-action buttons, creating a striking visual impact that emphasizes important actions
Analogous Colors
- What It Is: Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. For blue, this includes shades like teal (blue-green) and purple (blue-violet).
- Why Use It: This color scheme provides a harmonious and unified look. It’s more soothing than complementary schemes, making it ideal for backgrounds or sections where a relaxed, cohesive feel is needed. It’s great for designs aimed at creating a calm atmosphere.
- Example: Florent Biffi uses a gradient of blue shades complemented by soft purples, creating a visually pleasing and cohesive design that is easy on the eyes.
Monochromatic Colors
- What It Is: A monochromatic color scheme uses different shades, tints, and tones of a single color. For blue, this means using variations from light blue to dark blue.
- Why Use It: Monochromatic schemes create a clean, professional look while adding depth and subtle variation. It’s ideal for minimalist designs that emphasize simplicity without losing visual interest.
- Example: Loom utilizes a baby blue and white contrast throughout its design, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic while ensuring clarity and ease of navigation.
Colors of Blue in Web Design
Blue is one of the most popular colors in web design, known for its versatility and ability to evoke a range of emotions, from calmness to trustworthiness. Historically, blue has been associated with professionalism, stability, and security—qualities that make it a go-to color for brands across many industries. According to color theory, blue is often used to create a sense of reliability and peace, making it an ideal choice for websites that want to establish trust and authority.
It also works well across different devices and screens, maintaining its vibrancy in both digital and print formats. Designers choose blue for its ability to complement other colors, making it flexible in a wide range of color schemes.
Famous Examples of Color Blue in Web Design
Facebook is perhaps the most famous example of blue in web design. From its inception, Facebook has used blue as its primary color. The decision was practical—Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind and finds blue to be the most vibrant color he can see. However, blue’s association with trust and stability helped Facebook become a global platform. Its clean interface with blue accents provides a calm and welcoming experience, encouraging user engagement without distraction.
Why Blue Works Here: Facebook’s choice of blue aligns with its goal of fostering connection and trust. By using various shades of blue, Facebook reinforces its branding while maintaining a clean, user-friendly interface. Understanding what colors make blue harmonious allows Facebook to create a stable and reliable design.
LinkedIn relies heavily on blue to convey professionalism and trust. The platform uses various shades of blue throughout its interface, from headers to buttons, helping to create a calm and formal environment suitable for professional networking.
Why Blue Works Here: As a platform designed for career building and professional interactions, LinkedIn’s use of blue reinforces the values of reliability and competence. By experimenting with what two colors make blue deeper or lighter, LinkedIn maintains a design that feels both approachable and authoritative.
- WordPress
WordPress’s branding incorporates blue as a key part of its visual identity. The platform uses a monochromatic blue color scheme, with a deep blue logo and lighter blue accents throughout its interface. This consistent use of blue helps create a sense of professionalism and trust, important for a platform that powers millions of websites around the world.
- Why Blue Works Here: WordPress’s use of blue aligns with its goal of offering reliability and flexibility to users. The different shades of blue create a visually balanced experience, reinforcing the platform’s professionalism and user-friendliness. WordPress maintains a clean, functional interface that appeals to both developers and website owners alike. Understanding how to make blue work in various shades allows WordPress to deliver a design that feels both trustworthy and modern.
11 Lesser-known Shades of Blue in Web Design
- Periwinkle
Periwinkle is a soft, pale blue with a slight purple tint. It gets its name from the periwinkle flower, which has similar tones. The mix of blue and purple gives it a gentle, calming quality, often used in design for its soothing properties. It’s an ideal color for wellness, fashion, or minimalist designs.
How do you make color blue: Periwinkle
- Hex: #CCCCFF
- RGB: (204, 204, 255)
- CMYK: (19%, 19%, 0%, 0%)
- Miranda Blue
Miranda Blue is a soft, sky-like blue used primarily in fashion and design. Its gentle tone offers a sense of calm and openness, making it a popular choice in modern, minimalist aesthetics. It works great with minimalist web design.
How do you make color blue: Miranda
- Hex: #C2DCFF
- RGB: (194, 220, 255)
- CMYK: (23%, 13%, 0%, 0%)
- Parakeet Blue
Parakeet Blue is a bright, playful shade inspired by the feathers of parakeet birds. This blue has a lively, energetic quality and is often used in designs that aim to be eye-catching and fun. It’s perfect for creative, playful, and children-focused websites.
How do you make color blue: Parakeet
- Hex: #7EB6FF
- RGB: (126, 182, 255)
- CMYK: (50%, 28%, 0%, 0%)
- Uranian Blue
Uranian blue is a light greenish blue, the color of Uranus. It’s a light, ethereal blue that has a slightly greenish tint, giving it a celestial or otherworldly feel.
Uranian Blue’s light and airy quality is great for websites promoting calm, spaciousness, and peace. It’s perfect for wellness or nature-oriented designs.
How do you make color blue: Uranian
- Hex: #AFDBF5
- RGB: (175, 219, 245)
- CMYK: (28%, 10%, 0%, 3%)
- Han Blue
Han Blue is an ancient pigment that originated in Han Dynasty China. Made from barium copper silicate, it was used in ceramics and artifacts, showcasing a striking blue color that has lasted for centuries in preserved artworks.
Han Blue’s historical depth and striking color can add a timeless and artistic touch to websites, ideal for galleries, museums, or heritage brands.
How do you make color blue: Han
- Hex: #446CCF
- RGB: (68, 108, 207)
- CMYK: (67%, 47%, 0%, 18%)
- Spanish Blue
Spanish Blue is a deep, rich blue used in traditional Spanish art and textiles. It evokes a sense of elegance and sophistication, often seen in tiles and historic architecture. The color has a cultural significance tied to Spain’s artistic heritage. The color is said to capture the essence of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s eye-catching and bold.
Spanish Blue’s rich and elegant tone works well for luxury or culturally inspired websites, conveying sophistication and depth.
How do you make color blue: Spanish
- Hex: #0070BB
- RGB: (0, 112, 187)
- CMYK: (100%, 40%, 0%, 26%)
- Munsell Blue
Munsell Blue comes from the Munsell color system, a color identification system developed by Albert Munsell in the early 20th century. This system classifies colors by hue, value, and chroma, and Munsell Blue is noted for its balanced tone between light and dark shades.
Munsell Blue’s balanced tone makes it versatile for web design, offering a reliable and professional look suitable for corporate or educational sites.
How do you make color blue: Munsell
- Hex: #0093AF
- RGB: (0, 147, 175)
- CMYK: (100%, 16%, 0%, 31%)
- Byzantine Blue
Byzantine Blue takes its name from the Byzantine Empire, where it was often used in mosaics and religious art. This shade of blue is rich and vibrant, symbolizing power, spirituality, and opulence in ancient cultures.
Byzantine Blue’s vibrant and historical association can give a sense of authority and cultural richness to artistic, educational, or heritage-focused sites.
How do you make color blue: Byzantine
- Hex: #3457D5
- RGB: (52, 87, 213)
- CMYK: (75%, 59%, 0%, 16%)
- Lapis Blue
Lapis Blue is inspired by lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone used in art and jewelry for thousands of years. Its deep, intense blue color has been admired for its luxurious and striking appearance, often associated with royalty and wealth.
Lapis Blue’s intense, luxurious shade adds a bold, high-end feel to websites, perfect for brands aiming to project prestige and confidence.
How do you make color blue: Lapis
- Hex: #26619C
- RGB: (38, 97, 156)
- CMYK: (75%, 37%, 0%, 38%)
- YInMn Blue
YInMn Blue is a vivid shade discovered by accident in 2009 by scientists at Oregon State University. It is made from yttrium, indium, and manganese, giving it a unique and bright blue appearance. The discovery has led to its use in various applications, as it is both environmentally friendly and highly stable. YInMn Blue resists fading and is highly reflective, that’s why it’s a popular choice for artists and designers.
YInMn Blue’s vivid, unique hue can make websites stand out, adding a modern, fresh look while maintaining stability and clarity in design.
How do you make color blue: YInMn
- Hex: #2E5090
- RGB: (46, 80, 144)
- CMYK: (68%, 44%, 0%, 43%)
- International Klein Blue
International Klein Blue (IKB) is a vibrant, ultramarine blue developed by French artist Yves Klein in the 1960s. This iconic color is known for its depth and intensity, often used in modern art installations and design projects for dramatic effect.
International Klein Blue offers a bold and modern aesthetic, perfect for cutting-edge, art-centric, or avant-garde web designs.
How do you make color blue: International Klein
- Hex: #002FA7
- RGB: (0, 47, 167)
- CMYK: (100%, 71%, 0%, 34%)
These shades showcase the diversity in blue, answering questions like what colors make blue and how designers can manipulate it to suit different contexts and moods. Understanding how to make blue through various methods allows designers to explore endless possibilities with this versatile color.
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Let’s Collaborate
Blue is a powerful and versatile color in web design, offering endless possibilities for creating impactful visuals. Whether you’re blending shades in different color models or exploring lesser-known hues, understanding what colors make blue and how to manipulate them gives you control over your design’s tone and mood. From how to make blue in RGB and CMYK models to achieving the perfect dark blue shade, mastering blue allows you to craft websites that are both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly.
If you’re ready to elevate your web design with the right balance of colors, The White Label Agency can help. Our expert team specializes in WordPress web design, delivering clean, professional, and visually engaging websites tailored to your brand’s needs. Contact us today to learn how we can bring your vision to life.
