What is the difference between The Darkness and Royal Purple?

ΔE 13 (fair). Royal Purple is a little darker, more saturated. Swatch colours are estimates.

The Darkness vs Royal Purple

The Darkness

Brand: Army Painter
Range: John Blanche Vol. 1-4
Code: Vol. 1
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #182128 (estimate)

Royal Purple

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Game Color
Code: 72.016
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #1b162a (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 12.6, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Royal Purple is a little darker, more saturated than The Darkness.

Can I use Royal Purple instead of The Darkness?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 13). Royal Purple is a little darker, more saturated than The Darkness.

Can I use The Darkness instead of Royal Purple?

The same difference applies the other way round: The Darkness is a little lighter, more muted.

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 The Darkness on the colour wheel See Royal Purple on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to The Darkness

The Darkness vs Glossy Sea Blue (71.300)Model Air · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Royal Purple
The Darkness vs Continental Blue (70.754)Model Color · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Royal Purple
The Darkness vs Dark Sea Blue (70.898)Model Color · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Royal Purple

Other Army Painter paints close to Royal Purple

Royal Purple vs Thunder StormWarpaints Air · ΔE 9, close · closer than The Darkness
Royal Purple vs Terrestrial TitanWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 13, fair
Royal Purple vs Broodmother PurpleWarpaints Air · ΔE 15, fair

All matches: The Darkness equivalents · Royal Purple equivalents