What is the difference between Burnt Umber and Medium Brown?

ΔE 7 (close). Medium Brown is more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Burnt Umber vs Medium Brown

Burnt Umber

Brand: AMMO by Mig
Range: IONIC Smart Colors
Code: IONIC-0161
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #4e3629 (estimate)

Medium Brown

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.826
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #4c3c36 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 7.0, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Medium Brown is more muted, cooler than Burnt Umber.

Can I use Medium Brown instead of Burnt Umber?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). Medium Brown is more muted, cooler than Burnt Umber.

Can I use Burnt Umber instead of Medium Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Burnt Umber is more saturated, warmer.

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.

See Burnt Umber on the colour wheel See Medium Brown on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Burnt Umber

Burnt Umber vs Flat Earth (70.983)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Medium Brown
Burnt Umber vs Leather Brown (70.871)Model Color · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Medium Brown
Burnt Umber vs Burnt Umber (70.941)Model Color · ΔE 7, close

Other AMMO by Mig paints close to Medium Brown

Medium Brown vs Matt Earth FS-34088 (AMMO.F-507)Acrylic Colors for Figures · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Burnt Umber
Medium Brown vs Chipping (A.MIG-0618)Dio Drybrush · ΔE 10, close
Medium Brown vs Starship Sludge Bay (A.MIG-3532)Oilbrusher · ΔE 10, fair

All matches: Burnt Umber equivalents · Medium Brown equivalents