Our paint-by-number designs include hex color codes for every palette color (like #4A7C3F or #D4956B). But how do you turn those digital codes into actual mixed paint? Here's a practical approach.
Understanding Hex Codes
A hex code is a 6-character representation of a color's red, green, and blue components. For example:
- #FF0000 = pure red (255 red, 0 green, 0 blue)
- #00FF00 = pure green
- #808080 = medium gray (equal parts of everything)
- #D4956B = a warm tan/peach (lots of red, moderate green, less blue)
You don't need to memorize this - just use it as a guide for how warm/cool and how light/dark a color should be.
The Practical Method
Step 1: Identify the Base Hue
Look at the hex code on screen (your phone or computer) and ask: what tube color is this closest to? Most colors are variations of these base hues: cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, titanium white, and Mars black.
Step 2: Start with the Dominant Tube Color
Squeeze a small amount (pea-sized) of the closest tube color onto your palette. This is your starting point.
Step 3: Adjust in Small Increments
- Too bright/saturated? Add a tiny amount of the complementary color to mute it, or add a touch of raw umber.
- Too dark? Add titanium white, a little at a time.
- Too light? Add a darker version of the same hue, or a touch of black (use sparingly - black can deaden colors).
- Too warm? Add a tiny touch of blue.
- Too cool? Add a tiny touch of yellow or red.
Step 4: Test and Compare
Paint a small swatch on a scrap of the same paper you're using for the project. Hold it next to the hex code on your screen. Remember: acrylic darkens slightly as it dries, so let the test swatch dry for 5 minutes before comparing.
Color Mixing Cheat Sheet
- Earth tones (#8B6914, #A0522D): Start with yellow ochre or burnt sienna. These are the easiest to mix.
- Sky blues (#87CEEB, #4169E1): White + ultramarine blue + tiny touch of phthalo blue for brightness.
- Greens (#228B22, #6B8E23): Phthalo blue + cadmium yellow. Add white to lighten, burnt umber to mute.
- Skin tones (#D4956B, #FFDAB9): White + yellow ochre + cadmium red (tiny amount). Adjust warmth with more red or coolness with a trace of blue.
- Grays (#808080, #A9A9A9): White + black. For warmer grays, add a tiny touch of burnt umber. For cooler grays, a touch of blue.
When "Close Enough" Is Fine
You don't need laboratory precision. Paint-by-numbers is about enjoyment, not color-matching contests. If your mixed color is in the right family and the right value (lightness/darkness), it will look great in the finished painting. The human eye is forgiving - adjacent colors influence each other, and small variations actually add richness.
Try it yourself with our free paint-by-number designs - each one includes a full palette with hex codes for every color.