Salmon pink is a gorgeous hue that can add a bright yet soft splash of color to any project But achieving the perfect salmon pink can be tricky. With the right mix of colors, you can create this delicate, feminine shade for any painting, craft or design needs. In this complete guide, we’ll uncover everything you need to know to mix up eye-catching salmon pinks.
What is Salmon Pink?
Before we dive into mixing, let’s look at what defines the salmon pink color. While it takes its name from the pink-orange color of salmon flesh, salmon pink is lighter and more delicate than the natural fish shade.
True salmon pink mixes pink and a subtle touch of orange, falling somewhere between a light coral and pale peach. It’s a warm, inviting color that brings to mind sunsets, flowers and tropical locales Salmon pinks range from very soft and muted to brighter candy-colored versions like you’d see in birth announcements or baby shower decor.
- A light pink-orange blend
- Warmer and brighter than a true nude pink
- Not as bold as coral pink
- Softer and more subtle than a hot pink
The versatility of salmon pink means it can work in formal, casual, vintage and modern color schemes depending on the exact shade and how it’s applied
Primary Colors for Mixing Salmon Pink
Mastering any color means understanding the primaries that compose it. With salmon pink, the core components are:
Red
Reds provide the pink foundation. Choose warmer reds with a touch of orange rather than cooler blue-based reds. Vermillion, red oxide and cadmium red all have the right undertone.
Yellow
A touch of yellow takes the red into peach and coral territory. Select vivid yellows like cadmium yellow over earthy raw sienna.
White
White softens and lightens the mix for that delicate salmon look. Titanium or zinc white works better than lead white.
Mixing Salmon Pink Paint Colors
Armed with the right primary paints, you can mix custom salmon pink acrylics, oils, watercolors and more. Here are some simple formulas to try:
-
Vermillion + Cadmium Yellow + White – Vivid, bright salmon good for painting sunny themes
-
Red Oxide + Cadmium Yellow + White – More muted, retro salmon perfect for mid-century designs
-
Alizarin Crimson + Lemon Yellow + White – Adds a berry tone for richer, warmer salmon pinks
The ratios depend on the exact shade you want. As a starting point, try two parts red, one part yellow and one part white. Adjust the white to lighten or deepen the salmon tone.
Play with mixing amounts until you nail down your perfect salmon pink recipe. Keep notes so you can recreate it later. Small batch mixing lets you iterate and fine-tune the shades.
Mixing Salmon Pink with Acrylic Craft Paints
For crafters and hobbyists, acrylic craft paints provide an affordable way to mix custom colors. Start with a basic red, yellow and white set of acrylics from your favorite budget-friendly brand.
Here are some ideas for craft paint salmon pink:
-
Primary Red + Primary Yellow + White – A bright, playful salmon for cheery projects
-
Vermillion + Lemon Yellow + White – Warmer salmon pink, nice for vintage decor
-
Hot Pink + Primary Yellow + White – Vibrant, candy-colored salmon perfect for girls’ DIY projects
Test different acrylic paint ratios to find your ideal shades. Add more yellow to head towards peach and more white to soften further into pastel territory.
Alternative Ways to Make Salmon Pink
Don’t limit yourself to red, yellow and white primaries. You can also mix salmon pink starting with other color combinations:
Orange + White
Start with a reddish orange paint and add white to dilute it towards salmon. This creates a very warm, glowing color.
Pink + Yellow
Mixing any pink with a pure warm yellow will also produce salmon pinks. Just choose the right undertones. A vibrant pink and lemon yellow can make a light candy salmon.
Pink + Orange
Combining pink and orange offers another route to salmon pink. Choose bright berry pinks and vivid oranges for coral-like results.
Custom Color Mixing Blends
For hobby painters, pre-made color mixing sets can shortcut the process. Many brands sell custom blended trios for mixing specific hues like salmon pink.
These sets combine paints scientifically to make color blending easier. With just three tubes, even beginners can quickly mix salmon, peach, coral and more.
Tips for Mixing the Perfect Salmon Pink
To nail your ideal salmon pink shade, keep these color theory tips in mind:
-
Add a drop of purple – Brings down the warmth for more of a true pink
-
Include a dot of green – Cools it down towards a retro-inspired salmon
-
Go heavy on yellow and light on red – Makes a softer, more peachy salmon
-
Use more white – Results in a lighter pastel salmon pink
-
Start light, you can always add more – Easier to gradually intensify than lighten
-
Store mixed colors properly – Improperly closed paints can dry out, altering the color
Don’t stress about perfectly recreating a specific shade every time. Variations in mixes, paint brands and batches will all influence the final color. Focus on the color temperature and lightness to achieve that signature salmon look.
Matching Salmon Pink from Physical References
Trying to match a real-world salmon pink sample? Follow these steps for color-matching success:
1. Analyze the Pink Undertone
Look at your inspiration color and determine if it leans warm, cool or neutral. This gives direction for the correct red, yellow and white mixes.
2. Compare Lightness
Decide if your target shade is light, medium or dark. A lighter salmon needs more white or pink added to the mix.
3. Consider Intensity
Determine if the color is muted or vivid to select soft versus bright paint options. A vivid salmon starts with intense red and yellow choices.
4. Adjust and Test
Mix, compare and tweak until you achieve as close of a match possible. Test on a sample board before committing for the real project.
Matching something like fabric or paint samples this way does take time and practice. But the color theory remains the same – analyze, strategize, mix and compare.
Salmon Pink Color Harmony Combinations
Once you’ve mixed the perfect salmon pink, what colors go with it? Here are some lovely combinations for graphic design, home decor and more:
Complementary Colors
Salmon pink’s complement is teal – the two colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. When paired, they create vibrant contrast. Try a bright salmon with a deep aqua teal.
Split Complements
This uses a color on either side of the complement. For salmon pink, good split complements are blue-green and blue-violet.
Analagous Colors
Analagous schemes use colors beside each other on the color wheel. For salmon pink, combine with other corals, oranges, peaches, light reds or soft yellows.
Triadic Colors
A triadic palette uses three colors equally spaced around the color circle. Salmon pink works well in triads with pale green and soft violet.
Salmon Pink Color Examples and Inspiration
Need some visual inspiration for working with salmon pink? Here are some beautiful examples from fashion, nature, interior design and more:
Fashion
From blush gowns to accent details, salmon pink works beautifully in clothing and accessories. It has a soft femininity that’s flattering and sophisticated.
Flowers
Many flowers showcase lovely salmon pink tones. Peonies, garden roses, carnations, cosmos and ranunculus all display gorgeous soft salmon hues.
Gemstones
In jewelry, gemstones like morganite, padparadscha sapphire and salmon diamonds capture the warmth and elegance of salmon pink.
Home Decor
In home design, salmon pink makes for an inviting accent wall color. It also complements wood tones and metals for fixtures, furniture and decor pieces.
Weddings
For weddings, airy salmon pink shines when combined with white details and greenery. It brings a romantic, whimsical feel to flowers, stationery, linens and more.
Mixing and Matching Your Own Salmon Pink
As you can see, salmon pink is a versatile and beautiful color that works year-round. By mastering mixing techniques and color combinations, you can incorporate this soft shade into any project or palette.
Follow the tips and formulas in this guide to create your own perfect salmon pink. Start mixing and enjoy developing that eye for finding the ideal blend. With practice, you’ll be able to mix custom salmon colors with confidence
An Overview on How a Salmon’s Diet Affects Its Color
You might turn orange if you eat a lot of carrots. The same thing happens to salmon when they eat carotenoids, an antioxidant that gives salmon its color. Astaxanthin is a caratenoid that salmon eat a lot of in the wild, and this is reflected in the natural color of salmon flesh. Farmed salmon, in contrast, get their carotenoids from manmade pellets.
What color are different types of wild-caught salmon?
Salmon get their color from the animals they eat in the wild. This is what makes salmon red or pink. This unique color reflects this carnivore’s diet of shrimp and krill. Different kinds of salmon eat different amounts of these crustaceans high in carotenoids, which changes how red or pink they turn. Sockeye salmon, for example, tend to have the deepest color because they eat a lot of carotenoid-rich zooplankton throughout their life. Coho salmon, on the other hand, switch from eating zooplankton to small fish as they get older.
Because of this, coho tends to be pink or orange. To keep its lighter color, king salmon, also known as chinook salmon, eats small fish. Depending on where its caught its color can range from orange to a subtle pink with gray tones.
Interestingly, king salmon can either be “red” or “white. ” King salmon can carry a recessive trait that leads to white or ivory flesh. People who fish and hunt used to like the type of king salmon they were used to, but now wild-caught white king salmon is seen as more of a treat. Now, does it taste the same as its more colorful counterpart? That’s up for debate.
How to make Salmon Pink Colour | Acrylic Colour Mixing | Using 3 Acrylic Colours
FAQ
What colors do you need to make salmon?
What makes salmon pink?
What is the colour code for pink salmon?
What color is salmon pink?
Each system has a different value, or percentage of colors, that make up every color in the graphic design spectrum, and the same can be said for salmon pink. In the RGB (red, green, blue) system, the salmon pink color percentage is comprised of salmon pink in the RGB system is (255,134,116).
Is salmon a color?
Yes, salmon is a recognized color. It is a light shade of pink with a slight orange undertone, reminiscent of the color of salmon flesh. What color is salmon? Salmon is a light pink color with a hint of orange. In the digital world, it is represented by the hex color code #FA8072. Is salmon color orange or pink?
What is the CMYK color code for salmon pink?
Whereas the RGB values focus on a 3-color combination, the CMYK values focus on 4-color combinations. Furthermore, the CMYK values for salmon pink are (0,56,48,0) almost parallel to the actual percentages. Now that you know what values make up the salmon pink color code, you can be sure that you’ll get the right swatch every time.
What colors go with salmon?
Salmon is closely related to pinks, reds, and oranges, which lie opposite to shades of green and blue. Read on to find out what colors go with salmon. If you’re looking to create a color palette using Salmon, simply type in the hex code in the Color Palette Quicktool and it’ll generate some fun color palettes to try.