Purple Swarm vs Clear Purple

How close are they?

ΔE 7.3, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Clear Purple is a little darker than Purple Swarm. They are different kinds of paint: Army Painter Purple Swarm is a one-coat contrast-style paint and Reaper Clear Purple 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 Purple instead of Purple Swarm?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). Clear Purple is a little darker than Purple Swarm. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Purple Swarm instead of Clear Purple?

The same difference applies the other way round: Purple Swarm is a little lighter.

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.