What is the difference between Alpha Blue and Brilliant Blue?

ΔE 16 (loose). Brilliant Blue is a little darker, more saturated, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Alpha Blue vs Brilliant Blue

Alpha Blue

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Fanatic
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #697bb9 (estimate)

Brilliant Blue

Brand: Tamiya
Range: TS Spray
Code: TS-44
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #0269ac (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 15.6, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Brilliant Blue is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Alpha Blue.

Can I use Brilliant Blue instead of Alpha Blue?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 16). Brilliant Blue is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Alpha Blue.

Can I use Alpha Blue instead of Brilliant Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Alpha Blue is a little lighter, more muted, 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 Alpha Blue on the colour wheel See Brilliant Blue on the colour wheel

Other Tamiya paints close to Alpha Blue

Alpha Blue vs Blue Violet (PS-35)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Brilliant Blue
Alpha Blue vs Blue Violet (TS-57)TS Spray · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Brilliant Blue
Alpha Blue vs Brilliant Blue (PS-30)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 15, loose · closer than Brilliant Blue

Other Army Painter paints close to Brilliant Blue

Brilliant Blue vs Crystal BlueWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Alpha Blue
Brilliant Blue vs Crystal BlueWarpaints Air · ΔE 8, close · closer than Alpha Blue
Brilliant Blue vs Sapphire GemWarpaints Air · ΔE 9, close · closer than Alpha Blue

All matches: Alpha Blue equivalents · Brilliant Blue equivalents