Hardened Carapace vs Carbon Black

How close are they?

ΔE 10.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Carbon Black is a little darker, more muted than Hardened Carapace.

Can I use Carbon Black instead of Hardened Carapace?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 10). Carbon Black is a little darker, more muted than Hardened Carapace.

Can I use Hardened Carapace instead of Carbon Black?

The same difference applies the other way round: Hardened Carapace is a little lighter, more saturated.

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.