I have been using Wilton gel black to mix gray and black gumpaste (Satin Ice), but it continuously fades into a pale purple color. I spent all morning making Mt. Rushmore for my husband's cake and now all the presidents are purple! Help!

I'm not at my regular computer so I dont' have the links to previous threads but we've been battling this since the 1970's when they took Red Dye #2 off of the market.

black is made when the 3 primary colors are blended ... yellow, blue and red. When 3 PURE primary colors are blended. We don't really have access to PURE colors like labs do. So our mixtures wont' result in pure black.

Primary Color combos:
Red + Blue = Purple
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Yellow = green

If you have purple icing, then you have basically blue and red .... you're short some yellow. Add a touch of yellow to get it back to black.

Likewise if your black turns green (as is frequently posted as a pretty regular problem on here), that means you have basically yellow and blue .... you're short some red. Add a touch of red to get it back to black.

Indydeb, that is some VALUABLE info. And what on earth are you doing up so early!!

Thanks! I'll try adding some yellow and see if that helps.

If you start with chocolate and add black you (a) don't have to add as much black; and (b) your fading is minimal and you at least fade to dark brown vs. purple or green. HTH! --at least for next time!

edited