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Question: How do you mix paint to be neon!?
I tried adding white and it only turns lighter!. I want it to truely stand out, but i don't have any neon colors!. please help!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
There are some tricks you can use to fool the eye and make you colors look brighter!.
First understand that any color has three properties:
1!. Hue: The Hue is the actual color!. Like the hue of bright, light red is "red!." You can change the hue just by mixing it with another color!. Like adding yellow to blue and change the hue to green!.

2!. Value: That is the light and dark!. The vaule of bright light red is "light"!. When you add white you make the value lighter!.

3!. Intensity: That is the brightness that you are interested in!.
The intensity of bright,light red is "bright"!.
You can decrease the intensity of a color just by mixing it with another color!. Complimentary colors (opposites on the color wheel, like red/green and yellow/violet and blue/orange work best!.
But unfortunately you cannot increase the intensity of a normal color to neon quality by mixing!. You have to go out and buy the neon colors!.

HOWEVER: Since you said you don't have neon colors but you do want the colors you already have to look brighter there are two things you can do!.
1!.) Put thick black lines around the areas you want to look brighter (like a Rouault painting or a stained glass window!.
or:
2!.) Make all the other colors duller by lowering their intensity by using their complements!.

You will find that colors LOOK brighter when they are surrounded by duller or darker colors!. This is called the HAPTIC ILLUSION!.

Good Luck Painting Syd!.
I hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Why don't you take a photograph of your 'Neon' subject!. That way you can match the colours more easily!.

For a colour to really stand out, you'll need dull colours (less saturation) around the subject!. (You can make dull colours by mixing three primary colours!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com

you are going to have to buy neon colors!. These are especially vibrant shades that you dont get by simply lightening common colors!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You buy neon paint!. You can mix any colors you like, they won't make a neon color!.Www@QuestionHome@Com