Coloring Tips: Supplies, Color Mixing and Techniques
Good coloring comes down to three things: the right supplies, a little color knowledge, and a few simple techniques. This page collects short answers for all three, with links to the full guides. It is written for parents, teachers and anyone who colors for fun, from a first set of crayons to a pack of alcohol markers.
When you are ready to color, pick a page from the free coloring pages gallery, turn a favorite photo into a page with Photo to Coloring Page, or describe a page and let AI draw it.
Mix colors
Most color questions are mixing questions. Red, yellow and blue are the primary colors; mixing two primaries gives a secondary (orange, green, purple), and mixing a primary with a neighbor gives a tertiary color. Colors opposite each other on the wheel mute each other, which is how you get browns and grays.
- Start with the color mixing chart, then read primary colors, secondary colors and tertiary colors.
- Looking for one color? We have a short guide for each: brown, purple, green, orange, blue, red, black, yellow, pink, white, gold, gray, tan, teal and maroon.
- For picking colors that look good together, see warm and cool colors and the colors of the rainbow.
Choose your supplies
There is no single best tool. It depends on the paper, the age of the colorist and how detailed the page is.
| Tool | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Crayons | Young children, big shapes | Hard to stay inside small spaces |
| Colored pencils | Detail, shading and blending | Needs time and a sharp point |
| Washable markers | Quick, bright color for kids | Can bleed through thin printer paper |
| Alcohol markers | Smooth, saturated color for adults | Bleed through almost any paper; put a sheet behind the page |
| Gel pens | Highlights, small details, dark paper | Slow on large areas |
| Watercolor pencils | Soft washes after you add a wet brush | Needs thicker paper |
Full guides: best markers for coloring, alcohol markers, gel pens, watercolor pencils and how to color with colored pencils.
Techniques
- Outline first, fill second. Color the small areas, then the big ones, so you do not smudge finished work.
- Light to dark. With pencils, build color in thin layers. It is easy to add, hard to remove.
- Blend with a lighter pencil. A white or pale pencil pressed over two colors softens the edge between them. See how to blend colored pencils.
- Pick a limited palette. Four or five colors that work together often look better than twenty.
- Leave white on purpose. A small gap of paper reads as light.
More in coloring techniques and coloring page ideas.
Print coloring pages well
Use standard printer paper for crayons and pencils, and thicker paper (about 24 lb or heavier) if you plan to use markers. Print at 100% (turn off "fit to page" if the margins look off) and use the black-and-white setting to save color ink. Details in how to print coloring pages. Our pages download as PDF or PNG and print on Letter-size paper.
Ideas when you are stuck
If you do not know what to color, try a pattern (mandalas, patterns, doodles), something cute, or a calming page from stress relief coloring. Teachers can browse teacher coloring pages, and families can start from family coloring pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to start coloring as an adult?
Start with colored pencils and a simple pattern page such as a mandala. Pencils are forgiving, cheap and easy to correct, and you can add markers later.
What colors make brown?
Mix red, yellow and blue, or mix two opposite colors such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. Change the amounts to get lighter or darker browns. The brown guide has the details.
Which markers do not bleed through paper?
Most markers bleed through thin paper. Use heavier paper, put a spare sheet behind the page, or choose markers made for paper that bleeds less. Test on the back of a page first.
How do I blend colored pencils?
Layer the lighter color first, add the darker one on top with light pressure, then go over the join with the lighter color or a white pencil. Use small circles instead of long strokes.
How do I print a coloring page so it fits the paper?
Download the PDF, choose Letter size and print at 100% or "actual size." If the edges are cut off, switch to "fit to page" instead.
Can I turn my own photo into a coloring page?
Yes. Upload a photo to Photo to Coloring Page and download a printable page. The original upload is deleted after processing.