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Will mixing red and blue food couloring work or is there a better method?

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Yes. Pigment is a matter of subtractive mixing, while light is additive. In basic terms, all pigments operate on the same basic principles when mixing. Light behaves differently but isn't really germane here. – daniel Oct 15 '10 at 10:16

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Yes. Buy purple food colouring. any baking supply store will have it, and there are plenty of suppliers online. Powdered colour is much more intense than liquid.

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Can't get purple food coloring here in new zealand for some weird reason. Been unable to get it for a couple of years I was told. So weird. I found an old one and used that. – Olyvia Meyer Oct 16 '10 at 21:30
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You might be able to get that color with a blueberry juice or maybe beets, but purple food coloring would be easiest.

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Beet juice is distinctly red. Blueberries are a very good idea though, and hey, more flavour! Purple carrots might also work, but I have never juiced them. – daniel Oct 15 '10 at 5:38
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I think that for casual home use, mixing your own blue and red is a perfectly fine idea. I've done it for making playdough and it is just fine. You could experiment with a few drops in water to determine the blue-to-red ratio, but unless you need a really specific color (Minnesota Vikings Purple or somesuch), just using equal amounts is fine.

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