Astorath Red vs Fluorescent Red

How close are they?

ΔE 12.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Fluorescent Red is noticeably lighter, more saturated than Astorath Red. They are different kinds of paint: Citadel Astorath Red is an opaque base/layer paint and Vallejo Fluorescent Red is a fluorescent or effect paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Fluorescent Red instead of Astorath Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 13). Fluorescent Red is noticeably lighter, more saturated than Astorath Red. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Astorath Red instead of Fluorescent Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Astorath Red is noticeably darker, 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.