Matt Black Primer vs Pure Black

How close are they?

ΔE 4.1, very close: most people won’t see a difference side by side. Pure Black is a little lighter than Matt Black Primer. They are different kinds of paint: Army Painter Matt Black Primer is a technical paint or medium and Reaper Pure Black is an opaque base/layer paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Pure Black instead of Matt Black Primer?

Yes, for most jobs. Very close match (ΔE 4). Pure Black is a little lighter than Matt Black Primer. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Matt Black Primer instead of Pure Black?

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.