Understanding Color Mixing: What Colors Make Red?

Creating the color red involves understanding the principles of color mixing and the interaction of different pigments or light sources. While red is a primary color in the RGB (red, green, blue) color model used for digital displays, in traditional color mixing with paints or dyes, red is a secondary color. 

To make red, you typically need to mix primary colors. In the subtractive color model (used in painting), red can be created by mixing equal parts of magenta and yellow. Magenta is a primary color along with cyan and yellow. When combined in equal proportions, magenta and yellow pigments absorb the blue and green wavelengths, respectively, allowing the red wavelengths to be reflected, resulting in the perception of red. 

Understanding what color makes red is fundamental in art and design, enabling artists to achieve desired hues and shades while mixing paints, dyes, or pigments to create vibrant and diverse color palettes.