What is the difference between Indigo and Royal Blue?

ΔE 20 (loose). Royal Blue is a little lighter, much more saturated, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Indigo vs Royal Blue

Indigo

Brand: Kimera Kolors
Range: Pure Pigments
Code: Pure Pigments
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #434064 (estimate)

Royal Blue

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.809
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #264a8b (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 19.6, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Royal Blue is a little lighter, much more saturated, cooler than Indigo.

Can I use Royal Blue instead of Indigo?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 20). Royal Blue is a little lighter, much more saturated, cooler than Indigo.

Can I use Indigo instead of Royal Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Indigo is a little darker, much more muted, 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 Indigo on the colour wheel See Royal Blue on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Indigo

Indigo vs Oxford Blue (70.807)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Royal Blue
Indigo vs Prussian Blue (70.965)Model Color · ΔE 6, close · closer than Royal Blue
Indigo vs Blue (71.004)Model Air · ΔE 7, close · closer than Royal Blue

Other Kimera Kolors paints close to Royal Blue

Royal Blue vs Phthalo Blue GS (Pure Pigments)Pure Pigments · ΔE 14, fair · closer than Indigo
Royal Blue vs Phthalo Blue RS (Pure Pigments)Pure Pigments · ΔE 15, loose · closer than Indigo
Royal Blue vs Turquoise Deep (Pure Pigments)Pure Pigments · ΔE 21, loose

All matches: Indigo equivalents · Royal Blue equivalents