Decorator's Color Wheel

In the center are the primary colors - Red, Yellow, and Blue. From these, all others are made.

In the inner ring are secondary colors - orange, green, violet, made by mixing equal amounts of primary colors. Mix red and yellow for orange, mix red and blue for violet, and mix blue and yellow for green.

In the outer ring are the tertiary colors - achieved by mixing varying amounts of one primary color with the adjacent primary. Mix a large amount of red with a small
amount of blue and you will get a red-violet color. Do the opposite for blue-violet. Increase or decrease amounts form many hues in between.

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• Blending Of Colors

TIPS:
1. To lighten any color, add small amounts of white icing
2. To darken any color, add small amounts of specified darker color of icing
3. For pastels, add 2 parts of white icing to 1 part of any colored icing
4. For purple icing using buttercream, the icing may have blue casts if you don't use milk to make your buttercream.

• For the deepest RED, use Baker's Preferred Gel (above). You must stop 2 shades light or it may be too dark. This won't taste bad since it is not necassary to add so much coloring.
• Always for vivid colors, use those with SUPER in front of the color name.
• Color your icing a day before using, cover and let sit. It will darken.
• Everything = black. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. Equal parts of these 3 equal black. It will take more red because it isn't as strong...except with Baker's Preferred.
• Beware that Wilton's 'no-taste' red is very very thin! It will thin your icing and is not best quality.
• Powdered colors are not real strong with lots of color pigment, but are great for coloring ANY sugar or coconut. Just add and give a few shakes!
• Powdered BROWN is exactly the color of chocolate. It took 2 jars for me before I got one batch of royal icing colored for a basketweave display cake.
• One thing about using powdered coloring for royal icing is, it won't break down the icing!
• MOSS or AVACODO greens make more realistic leaf colors. LEAF green is good for Christmas green.
• GREEN: If too 'yellow' add more blue. You can do with one shade that way and not need all the dif. greens.
• PURPLE: If using purple color for buttercream icing, use milk for the liquid and your icing won't fade blue as it crusts.
• Liquid Paste and Liquid gels are faster and easier to mix with icing. Great for leaves since the icing usually needs thinned some. If using this for red etc where you need a deep color, you may need to also add more conf. sugar to re-thicken your icing.
• To achieve true pastels, mix coloring with just a small amount of icing and add only the amount needed for the pastel color you are trying to get.
• NO WASTE: Put leftover icings in one bowl and add cocoa. Or- black/brown colorings.
For BLACK, when you need a lot of it...first, make chocolate icing, then add black food coloring to make it black...or almost black. Use SUPER black coloring so you use less coloring too. *All colors = black. Primary colors all are made from are blue, yellow and red. In equal portions of all you get black. Since some colors may not be as strong as others, you may need to add more of that one to get equal color.

• OTHER IDEAS:

AntiqueGold - Add just an extremely small touch of Leaf Green to Lemon Yellow
Aqua - 5 parts Sky Blue and 1 part Leaf Green
Avocado - Use Moss Green paste
Blue Lavender - Mix a small amount of Violet with white icing
BurgundyorWine - Mix 3 small parts Blue and 1 part Red-Red. (This is very difficult color to mix)
Chartreuse - 9 parts Lemon Yellow & 1 part Leaf Green
Coral - pale Watermelon makes a very attractive Coral color
Flesh - Red and Green in white buttercream
Gray - Add just a touch of Black to white icing
Lavender - 6 parts pink & 1 part Violet
NavyBlue - Mix in a large amount of Royal Blue until a deep Blue is achieved. Add a very small amount of Black.
Peach - Mix equal parts of Lemon Yellow and Pink
Pink Lavender - Mix a small amount of Blue color with Pink colored icing.
Raspberry - Mix equal parts of Pink and Red-Red. Use enough color to get a rather deep effect.
Rust - Mix enough Orange until a bright Orange is obtained. Add Christmas Red until color is dark. Add a very small amount of Royal Blue.
Silver - We do not advise attempting to simulate Silver color in icing, its just gray. Instead add silver leaves or other silver accessories to the cake
Turquoise - 9-1/2 parts Sky Blue & ½ part Lemon Yellow
WarmGold - Add just a touch of Red Red to Lemon Yellow
• Using OUR Buttercream Icing already colored
Aqua - 1 scoop of Leaf Green and 3 scoops of Blue
Dusty Rose - 4 scoops of Reddi Red and 1 scoop of Blue
Lavender - 2 scoops of Pink and 1 scoop of Blue
Lilac - 1/2 scoop of Reddi Red and 3 scoops of Pink and 2 scoops of Blue
LimeGreen - 1 scoop of Leaf Green and 3 scoops of Yellow
Mint - 1 scoop of Leaf Green and 1 scoop of Yellow and 2 scoops of Blue
Orange Pastel - 3 scoops of Pink and 2 scoops of Yellow
Peach - 2 scoops of Pink and 1 scoop of Yellow
Pistachio - 4 scoops of Leaf Green and 1 scoop of Yellow
Salmon - 1 scoop of Reddi Red and 6 scoops of Yellow
Sea Green - 1 scoop of Yellow and 1 scoop of Blue
Turquoise - 1 scoop of Leaf Green and 4 scoops of Blue

Ameri Mist Blending Hints:
Apricot - 1 part orange & a touch of peach
Grape - 8 parts burgundy & 3 parts royal blue
Juniper Green - 1 part forest green & 1 part orange
Lavender - 2 parts deep pink & 1 pt violet
Maroon - 1 part burgundy, 1 part super red & touch of royal blue
Plum - 3 parts violet & 1 part christmas red
Sea Foam Green - 2 parts forest green & 1 part ivory
Avocado - 6 parts ivory & touch of sky blue
Gold - 4 parts egg yellow & 1 part chocolate brown
Khaki (Olive Green) - 3 parts lemon yellow, 2 parts violet & touch of mint green
Moss Green - 1 part leaf green & 1 part orange
Purple - 1 part violet & 1 part deep pink
Silver - 1 part super black, 1 part royal blue & 1 part bright white
Flesh tone - 2 parts bright white & 1 part peach
Jade - 2 parts forest green & 1 part leaf green
Lion Color - 5 parts egg yellow & 1 part chocolate brown
Navy Blue - 5 parts royal blue, 2 parts super black & 2 parts violet
Raspberry - 6 parts Deep Pink, 1 part super red & touch of violet
Tan - 5 parts egg yellow & 3 parts chocolate brown.

Remember if you want a deeper shade, use more color. If you want a lighter shade, use less color. Always mix your colors at least an hour in advance because they deepen with time. Colors will vary depending on what type of icing or whipped topping you use. It is suggested that you practice in a small amount of icing before using a whole batch. These blends were created specifically for Ameri Color Soft gel paste and Ameri Mist Airbrush colors.
 

Color Tips
 

                    Wilton paste food color is concentrated, giving vivid or deep colors
                    without changing consistency. Add paste color to icing, in small amounts
                    with a clean toothpick or spatula.

                    When making deep colors, such as black, brown, or red use Wilton
                    paste food colors in larger amounts than normal. It can take as much as
                    1 oz. paste food color per one cup to obtain deep colors. Deep colors
                    are recommended for accent colors only.

                    When icing is colored deep red, a bitter aftertaste may be detected.
                    Red No-Taste should be used when a large portion of red coloring is
                    used on the cake. Red No-Taste does not contain red 3 which causes
                    the bitter taste.

                    When white buttercream is tinted dark black, it also can have a bitter
                    taste. Use dark chocolate icing with a small amount of black color
                    added.

                    Colors deepen in buttercream icings upon setting; color icing 1-2 hours
                    before decorating. Colors fade slightly in royal, boiled or Color Flow
                    icing as they set.

                    Brown color occasionally has a green overtone to it. This usually occurs
                    with the presence of acid in the icing; lemon juice or cream of tartar.
                    Omit the acid if tinting icing brown. Also dissolving brown color in 1/4
                    teaspoon water before adding to icing will eliminate the green tone.

                    White-white is used for lightening icing that has been colored too dark.
                    Also use it for making white buttercream made with butter or margarine.

                    All deep colors in nature stain, like blueberries, but none of them are
                    harmful. Paste colors can stain teeth and skin; however, simply washing
                    skin area with soap and warm water will remove color. Bleach can be
                    used on counter tops.

                    Lukewarm water should be used first to spot stained color. Rinse
                    thoroughly, allow to dry. If color is still visible use a commercial cleaner
                    on garment, carpet, upholstery, etc. In the case of a color that has Red 3
                    as an ingredient use an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice to soak stain
                    first. Proceed with lukewarm water and then allow to dry before using a
                    commercial cleaner.

                    Sometimes lemon juice or cream of tartar will cause colors to change, i.
                    e. violet will become blue. If the recipe has one of these ingredients in it,
                    omit it. In addition, some water (from various geographical areas) tends
                    to cause color changes. If buttercream icing is made with water, use milk
                    instead.

                    Usually, "bleeding" colors on a decorated cake is a result of improper
                    storage. It is not recommended to ice cakes while they are still frozen, as
                    the cake needs to "breathe" while it thaws. Allow the cake to defrost
                    before icing to help prevent the colors from bleeding.

                    An air tight cover on cake stored at room temperature may encourage
                    condensation to form which can cause colors to bleed.

                    Sunlight or fluorescent light will cause some colors to fade. After the
                    cake is decorated, it is best to keep in a cool room and out of direct
                    light.

Wilton Icing Color Chart

                    When mixing color always mix a small amount of color to experiment.
                    Start with base color and then add very small amounts of secondary
                    color. Be sure to mix enough color for the cakes to be decorated as it is
                    difficult to match an exact color.
 

                         ANTIQUE GOLD Add just an extremely small touch of
                         Leaf Green to golden yellow

                         AQUA Sky Blue and Leaf Green

                         AVOCADO Use Moss Green color

                         BLACK Our paste color or Royal Blue, Christmas Red,
                         Orange and Lemon

                         CHARTREUSE 9 parts Lemon Yellow, 1 part Leaf Green

                         CORAL Watermelon makes a very attractive coral color.
                         Or bright Creamy Peach

                         FLESH Add just an extremely small touch of Copper to
                         white icing. Ivory can also be used. Light pink with a small
                         amount of brown.

                         GRAY Add just a touch of Black to white icing.

                         HUNTER GREEN Kelly Green and a touch of black

                         JADE Leaf green, Royal Blue and a touch of black

                         LAVENDER Pink and violet

                         MARIGOLD Lemon Yellow and orange

                         MAROON Burgundy and Red Red

                         MAUVE Touch of Burgundy with very little black.

                         MISTY GREEN Leaf Green, Royal Blue and a touch of
                         black

                         MOSS GREEN Our paste color or violet and lemon
                         yellow

                         MULBERRY Mix Rose with a touch of Royal Blue.

                         NAVY BLUE Royal blue and black

                         RASPBERRY Pink and Red Red

                         RUST Orange, Red Red and Brown

                         SILVER We do not advise attempting to simulate silver
                         color in icing. Instead, add silver leaves or other silver
                         accessories to the cake.

                         TEAL Use teal paste color or lemon yellow and sky blue

                         TURQUOISE Sky Blue and Lemon Yellow

                         WARM GOLD Use Golden Yellow with just a touch of
                         brown.

Notes About Wilton Paste
                    Colors

                         RED

                         There are three different reds - Christmas Red, a
                         blue-toned red; Red-Red, an orange toned red; and
                         Red-No Taste, a blue toned red.

                         Note: It can take as much as 1 oz. of red paste color to
                         one cup of icing to get a deep red.

                         GREEN

                         Leaf Green is a brighter green with more yellow than Kelly
                         Green. Both of these greens require very little color, how
                         much color added depends on the tone of the green you
                         want.

                         HOT PINK

                         Rose paste color will obtain hot pink with good results.
                         Rose Petal is a soft, muted rose color. Pink is a traditional
                         pastel with a slight yellow tone.

                         BLUE

                         Royal Blue has a red tone. Sky Blue has a yellow tone.

                         DAFFODIL YELLOW

                         Daffodil Yellow is an all natural food coloring and does not
                         contain yellow #5. (Many people are allergic to this).
                         Daffodil Yellow currently contains alcohol which all other
                         colors do not have present.

Icing Color Uses

   Cookie Dough
                         A fun way to add color to cookies is to bake it right in! It's
                         easy--Knead small amounts of Icing Color into prepared
                         Roll-Out Cookie Dough until desired shade is reached. Roll out,
                         cut into shapes and bake! Take it one step further by piping
                         decorations on unbaked cookies using thinned tinted cookie
                         dough.
                         Here's how--Thin a small amount of tinted dough with 1 tsp.
                         Water at a time until it will pass through a small round decorating
                         tip. Add outlines, details, and even flowers. Bake following recipe
                         instructions.

                         Easter Eggs
                         Create a rainbow of colored eggs for Easter matched to your
                         basket, outfit, or bonnet! It's easy, fast and convenient, using
                         Wilton Icing Colors. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar in 3/4 cup very hot water.
                         Mix in icing color until the water is a very deep hue. Let water set
                         a few minutes, stir until completely dissolved, then begin to
                         brighten and color dozens of eggs! Experiment with different
                         colors, using a test egg to try out different combinations! Your
                         Easter egg-coloring possibilities are endless--even the Easter
                         bunny couldn't do better!

                         Bread Dough -- Just add icing color to the dough while
                         kneading! For an extra special touch, bake bread in one of
                         Witon's shaped pans.

                         Punch -- You may choose to color your punch or you can use
                         Wilton's Singles!™ Molds to make ice cubes. It is best to make
                         the molds with lemon-lime soda to avoid watered down punch.

ANTIQUE GOLD Add just an extremely small touch of Leaf Green to Golden Yellow

AQUA Sky Blue and Leaf Green

AVOCADO Use Moss Green color

BLACK Our paste color or Royal Blue, Christmas Red, Orange and Lemon

CHARTREUSE 9 parts Lemon Yellow, 1 part Leaf Green

CORAL Creamy peach and a touch of pink or orange and a touch of pink.

FLESH Add just an extremely small touch of Copper to white icing. Ivory can also be used. Light pink with a small amount of brown.

GRAY Add just a touch of Black to white icing.

HUNTER GREEN Kelly Green and a touch of Black

JADE Leaf green, Royal Blue and a touch of Black

LAVENDER Pink and Violet

MARIGOLD Lemon Yellow and Orange

MAROON Burgundy and Red Red

MAUVE Touch of Burgundy with very little Black.

MISTY GREEN Leaf Green, Royal Blue and a touch of Black

MOSS GREEN Our paste color or Violet and Lemon Yellow

MULBERRY Mix Rose with a touch of Royal Blue.

NAVY BLUE Royal Blue and Black

PERIWINKLE Royal Blue and Violet

PLUM Use violet with a touch of Christmas red.

RASPBERRY Pink and Red Red

RUST Orange, Red Red and Brown

SILVER We do not advise attempting to simulate silver color in icing. Instead, add silver leaves or other silver accessories to the cake.

TEAL Use teal paste color or Lemon Yellow and Sky Blue

TURQUOISE Sky Blue and Lemon Yellow

WARM GOLD Use Golden Yellow with just a touch of brown.