Dark Blue Tone vs Phthalo Blue (Red Shade)

How close are they?

ΔE 5.7, very close: most people won’t see a difference side by side. Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) is a little darker, warmer than Dark Blue Tone. They are different kinds of paint: Army Painter Dark Blue Tone is a wash/shade and Golden Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) is an ink, glaze or transparent paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) instead of Dark Blue Tone?

Yes, for most jobs. Very close match (ΔE 6). Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) is a little darker, warmer than Dark Blue Tone. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Dark Blue Tone instead of Phthalo Blue (Red Shade)?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dark Blue Tone is a little lighter, 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.