Purple is made by mixing the colors red and blue. The exact shade of purple depends on the proportions of red and blue used-more red yields a redder purple, and more blue yields a bluer purple

. There are two main ways purple is created:

• Additive mixing: This involves mixing red and blue light, such as on computer or TV screens. When red and blue light wavelengths combine, they produce purple light

• Subtractive mixing: This is the mixing of physical pigments or dyes, like paint. Red and blue pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. When combined, the mixture reflects light that appears purple to our eyes

Historically, purple pigments have been made from natural minerals like hematite and manganese, or from synthetic pigments such as cobalt violet and quinacridone violet

. Purple is distinct from violet; violet is a spectral color with a single wavelength, while purple results from mixing red and blue wavelengths

. In summary, purple is created by combining red and blue either as light or pigment, with the balance between the two determining the shade of purple you see.