What is the difference between Crystal Blue and Primary Cyan?

ΔE 20 (loose). Primary Cyan is a little darker, much more saturated, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Crystal Blue vs Primary Cyan

Crystal Blue

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Air
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #1070c0 (estimate)

Primary Cyan

Brand: Golden
Range: Heavy Body Acrylics
Code: PB15:3 / PW6
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #115dc7 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 20.0, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Primary Cyan is a little darker, much more saturated, warmer than Crystal Blue.

Can I use Primary Cyan instead of Crystal Blue?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 20). Primary Cyan is a little darker, much more saturated, warmer than Crystal Blue.

Can I use Crystal Blue instead of Primary Cyan?

The same difference applies the other way round: Crystal Blue is a little lighter, much more muted, cooler.

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 Crystal Blue on the colour wheel See Primary Cyan on the colour wheel

Other Golden paints close to Crystal Blue

Crystal Blue vs Cerulean Blue, Chromium (PB36)Heavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 10, fair · closer than Primary Cyan
Crystal Blue vs Azurite HueHeavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Primary Cyan
Crystal Blue vs Light Ultramarine Blue (PW6 / PB29)Heavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 21, loose

Other Army Painter paints close to Primary Cyan

Primary Cyan vs Ultramarine BlueWarpaints Air · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Crystal Blue
Primary Cyan vs Royal BlueWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Crystal Blue
Primary Cyan vs Viking BlueWarpaints Legacy · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Crystal Blue

All matches: Crystal Blue equivalents · Primary Cyan equivalents