What is the difference between Pure Red and Crimson?

ΔE 14 (fair). Crimson is noticeably lighter, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Pure Red vs Crimson

Pure Red

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Fanatic
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #b90119 (estimate)

Crimson

Brand: Scale75
Range: Scalecolor Artist
Code: Artist
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #de283f (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 14.1, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Crimson is noticeably lighter, cooler than Pure Red.

Can I use Crimson instead of Pure Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Crimson is noticeably lighter, cooler than Pure Red.

Can I use Pure Red instead of Crimson?

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

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 Pure Red on the colour wheel See Crimson on the colour wheel

Other Scale75 paints close to Pure Red

Pure Red vs Primary Red (Artist)Scalecolor Artist · ΔE 9, close · closer than Crimson
Pure Red vs Blood Red (SC36)Scalecolor · ΔE 10, fair · closer than Crimson
Pure Red vs Antares Red (SC37)Scalecolor · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Crimson

Other Army Painter paints close to Crimson

Crimson vs Wyrmling RedWarpaints Air · ΔE 8, close · closer than Pure Red
Crimson vs Angelic RedWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 8, close · closer than Pure Red
Crimson vs Mars RedWarpaints Legacy · ΔE 8, close · closer than Pure Red

All matches: Pure Red equivalents · Crimson equivalents