What is the difference between Dark DAK Sand and NATO Brown?

ΔE 17 (loose). NATO Brown is a little darker, much more muted, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Dark DAK Sand vs NATO Brown

Dark DAK Sand

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Historical
Code: WP4144P
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #8a6431 (estimate)

NATO Brown

Brand: Tamiya
Range: XF Flat Acrylic
Code: XF-68
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #70523a (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 17.3, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. NATO Brown is a little darker, much more muted, warmer than Dark DAK Sand.

Can I use NATO Brown instead of Dark DAK Sand?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 17). NATO Brown is a little darker, much more muted, warmer than Dark DAK Sand.

Can I use Dark DAK Sand instead of NATO Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dark DAK Sand is a little lighter, much 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 Dark DAK Sand on the colour wheel See NATO Brown on the colour wheel

Other Tamiya paints close to Dark DAK Sand

Dark DAK Sand vs Brown (JGSDF) (XF-72)XF Flat Acrylic · ΔE 8, close · closer than NATO Brown
Dark DAK Sand vs Brown (JGSDF) (TS-90)TS Spray · ΔE 8, close · closer than NATO Brown
Dark DAK Sand vs NATO Brown (TS-62)TS Spray · ΔE 17, loose

Other Army Painter paints close to NATO Brown

NATO Brown vs Cypress BrownWarpaints Air · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Dark DAK Sand
NATO Brown vs Leather BrownWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 7, close · closer than Dark DAK Sand
NATO Brown vs Leather Brown (WP4050P)Warpaints Historical · ΔE 7, close · closer than Dark DAK Sand

All matches: Dark DAK Sand equivalents · NATO Brown equivalents