What is the difference between Royal Blue and Primary Cyan?

ΔE 10 (fair). Primary Cyan is a little lighter, more muted, cooler. 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: Pro Acryl
Range: Expert Acrylics
Code: E014
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #1a6ab0 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 10.3, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Primary Cyan is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Royal Blue.

Can I use Primary Cyan instead of Royal Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 10). Primary Cyan is a little lighter, more muted, cooler 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, 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 Royal Blue on the colour wheel See Primary Cyan on the colour wheel

Other Pro Acryl paints close to Royal Blue

Royal Blue vs Blue (005)Standard / Signature / AMP · ΔE 4, very close · closer than Primary Cyan
Royal Blue vs Ultramarine (S35)Standard / Signature / AMP · ΔE 14, fair
Royal Blue vs Dark Blue (034)Standard / Signature / AMP · ΔE 19, loose

Other Army Painter paints close to Primary Cyan

Primary Cyan vs Crystal BlueWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 2, very close · closer than Royal Blue
Primary Cyan vs Crystal BlueWarpaints Air · ΔE 6, close · closer than Royal Blue
Primary Cyan vs Sapphire GemWarpaints Air · ΔE 7, close · closer than Royal Blue

All matches: Royal Blue equivalents · Primary Cyan equivalents