What is the difference between Royal Blue and Primary Cyan?

ΔE 17 (loose). Primary Cyan is a little lighter, much more saturated, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Royal Blue vs Primary Cyan

Royal Blue

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Fanatic
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #0057a5 (estimate)

Primary Cyan

Brand: Golden
Range: Heavy Body Acrylics
Code: PB15:3 / PW6
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #115dc7 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 17.3, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Primary Cyan is a little lighter, much more saturated, warmer than Royal Blue.

Can I use Primary Cyan instead of Royal Blue?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 17). Primary Cyan is a little lighter, much more saturated, warmer than Royal Blue.

Can I use Royal Blue instead of Primary Cyan?

The same difference applies the other way round: Royal Blue is a little darker, much more muted, cooler.

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 Royal Blue on the colour wheel See Primary Cyan on the colour wheel

Other Golden paints close to Royal Blue

Royal Blue vs Cerulean Blue, Chromium (PB36)Heavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 16, loose · closer than Primary Cyan
Royal Blue vs Azurite HueHeavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Primary Cyan
Royal Blue vs Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) (PB15:3)Heavy Body Acrylics · ΔE 18, loose

Other Army Painter paints close to Primary Cyan

Primary Cyan vs Ultramarine BlueWarpaints Air · ΔE 17, loose · closer than Royal Blue
Primary Cyan vs Viking BlueWarpaints Legacy · ΔE 17, loose
Primary Cyan vs Sapphire GemWarpaints Air · ΔE 18, loose

All matches: Royal Blue equivalents · Primary Cyan equivalents