What is the difference between Crystal Blue and Blue Violet?

ΔE 12 (fair). Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Crystal Blue vs Blue Violet

Crystal Blue

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Fanatic
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #006cb4 (estimate)

Blue Violet

Brand: Tamiya
Range: PS Spray (polycarbonate)
Code: PS-35
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #5978b9 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 11.6, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Crystal Blue.

Can I use Blue Violet instead of Crystal Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Crystal Blue.

Can I use Crystal Blue instead of Blue Violet?

The same difference applies the other way round: Crystal Blue is a little darker, more saturated, 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 Blue Violet on the colour wheel

Other Tamiya paints close to Crystal Blue

Crystal Blue vs Translucent Blue (PS-38)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Blue Violet
Crystal Blue vs Brilliant Blue (TS-44)TS Spray · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Blue Violet
Crystal Blue vs Brilliant Blue (PS-30)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Blue Violet

Other Army Painter paints close to Blue Violet

Blue Violet vs Alpha BlueWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Crystal Blue
Blue Violet vs Consul BlueWarpaints Air · ΔE 7, close · closer than Crystal Blue
Blue Violet vs Wolf GreyWarpaints Air · ΔE 11, fair · closer than Crystal Blue

All matches: Crystal Blue equivalents · Blue Violet equivalents