Imperial Red vs Pale Carmine Red

How close are they?

ΔE 12.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Pale Carmine Red is noticeably lighter, more muted than Imperial Red.

Can I use Pale Carmine Red instead of Imperial Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 13). Pale Carmine Red is noticeably lighter, more muted than Imperial Red.

Can I use Imperial Red instead of Pale Carmine Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Imperial Red is noticeably darker, 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.