Clear Smoke vs USA Flat Brown

How close are they?

ΔE 10.3, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. USA Flat Brown is a little lighter, more muted than Clear Smoke.

Can I use USA Flat Brown instead of Clear Smoke?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 10). USA Flat Brown is a little lighter, more muted than Clear Smoke.

Can I use Clear Smoke instead of USA Flat Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Clear Smoke is a little darker, more saturated.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.