Purple Swarm vs Clear Blue

Purple Swarm

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

Clear Blue

Brand
Reaper
Range
MSP Clears & Inks
Code
09097
Type
an ink, glaze or transparent paint
Swatch
#0f3e89 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 25.8, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Clear Blue is much more muted, cooler than Purple Swarm. They are different kinds of paint: Army Painter Purple Swarm is a one-coat contrast-style paint and Reaper Clear Blue is an ink, glaze or transparent paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Clear Blue instead of Purple Swarm?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 26). Clear Blue is much more muted, cooler than Purple Swarm. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Purple Swarm instead of Clear Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Purple Swarm is much 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 Clear Blue on the colour wheel

Other Reaper paints close to Purple Swarm

Other Army Painter paints close to Clear Blue

All matches: Purple Swarm equivalents · Clear Blue equivalents

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