How to Make Black Paint With Food Coloring

You've probably heard experts report that black is the absence of color. If that's true, then how can you make the color black? Black absorbs all the light that hits it, while other colors absorb some of the light that hits them. By combining all three primary colors, you can absorb all the light and produce the color without a color: black. The three primary colors are included in most food-coloring kits, which can be used to create homemade black paint.

Things You'll Need

• Red food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• Yellow food coloring

Instructions

1. Drip three drops of red food coloring into a small bowl.

2. Drip three drops of blue food coloring into the same small bowl on top of the red food coloring.

3. Drip three drops of yellow food coloring on top of the blue and red food coloring. Mix the colors well with a teaspoon. If more color is desired, drop equal amounts of each color into the bowl.

4. Mix 2 cups condensed milk with the black food coloring for a paint with a high gloss.

5. Mix 3 tbsp. sugar with 1/2 cup cornstarch in a saucepan. Add 2 cups cold water and heat over a low heat, stirring until the mixture is thick. Pour into a bowl and add the food coloring with a drop of liquid dish detergent for a matte paint.

6. Mix one egg yolk with 1/4 tsp. water and the black food coloring for an edible paint that can be used on freshly baked cookies. After painting the cookies, place them back in the oven until the paint hardens.

Tips & Warnings

• A small amount of food coloring goes a long way.

• Food coloring stains skin.

References

• Baking 911.com : Decorating 101: Tinting
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics: Mixing Colors
• Fun.Family Education: Homemade Paint Recipes