What is the difference between Matt Black Primer and Black Iron Oxide?

ΔE 7 (close). Black Iron Oxide is a little lighter. Swatch colours are estimates.

Matt Black Primer vs Black Iron Oxide

Matt Black Primer

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Air
Type: a technical paint or medium
Swatch: #101010 (estimate)

Black Iron Oxide

Brand: Pro Acryl
Range: Weathering pigments
Code: MWP-02
Type: a technical paint or medium
Swatch: #1e1e1e (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 6.6, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Black Iron Oxide is a little lighter than Matt Black Primer.

Can I use Black Iron Oxide instead of Matt Black Primer?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). Black Iron Oxide is a little lighter than Matt Black Primer.

Can I use Matt Black Primer instead of Black Iron Oxide?

The same difference applies the other way round: Matt Black Primer is a little darker.

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 Matt Black Primer on the colour wheel See Black Iron Oxide on the colour wheel

Other Pro Acryl paints close to Matt Black Primer

Matt Black Primer vs Primer Black (P-002)Primers · ΔE 2, very close · closer than Black Iron Oxide
Matt Black Primer vs Primer Black Brown (P-011)Primers · ΔE 11, fair
Matt Black Primer vs Primer Dark Neutral Grey (P-005)Primers · ΔE 20, loose

Other Army Painter paints close to Black Iron Oxide

Black Iron Oxide vs Matt Grey PrimerWarpaints Air · ΔE 49, loose
Black Iron Oxide vs Matt White PrimerWarpaints Air · ΔE 85, loose

All matches: Matt Black Primer equivalents · Black Iron Oxide equivalents