Purple Rain vs Royal Blue

How close are they?

ΔE 13.8, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Royal Blue is noticeably darker, more muted, cooler than Purple Rain.

Can I use Royal Blue instead of Purple Rain?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Royal Blue is noticeably darker, more muted, cooler than Purple Rain.

Can I use Purple Rain instead of Royal Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Purple Rain is noticeably lighter, 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.