What is the difference between Purple Swarm and Ultramarines Blue?

ΔE 22 (loose). Ultramarines Blue is more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Purple Swarm vs Ultramarines Blue

Purple Swarm

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Speedpaint 2.0
Type: a one-coat contrast-style paint
Swatch: #5a2a8a (estimate)

Ultramarines Blue

Brand: Citadel / Warhammer
Range: Colour: Contrast
Type: a one-coat contrast-style paint
Swatch: #1a3a8a (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 21.8, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Ultramarines Blue is more muted, cooler than Purple Swarm.

Can I use Ultramarines Blue instead of Purple Swarm?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 22). Ultramarines Blue is more muted, cooler than Purple Swarm.

Can I use Purple Swarm instead of Ultramarines Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Purple Swarm is more saturated, 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 Purple Swarm on the colour wheel See Ultramarines Blue on the colour wheel

Other Citadel paints close to Purple Swarm

Purple Swarm vs Leviathan PurpleColour: Contrast · ΔE 10, close · closer than Ultramarines Blue
Purple Swarm vs Shyish PurpleColour: Contrast · ΔE 11, fair · closer than Ultramarines Blue
Purple Swarm vs Luxion PurpleColour: Contrast · ΔE 15, loose · closer than Ultramarines Blue

Other Army Painter paints close to Ultramarines Blue

Ultramarines Blue vs Beowulf BlueSpeedpaint 2.0 · ΔE 0, very close · closer than Purple Swarm
Ultramarines Blue vs Periwinkle PurpleSpeedpaint 2.0 · ΔE 14, fair · closer than Purple Swarm
Ultramarines Blue vs Hive Dweller PurpleSpeedpaint 2.0 · ΔE 15, loose · closer than Purple Swarm

All matches: Purple Swarm equivalents · Ultramarines Blue equivalents