Oxide Brown Dark vs Purple Shadow

How close are they?

ΔE 13.7, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Purple Shadow is a little lighter, more saturated, cooler than Oxide Brown Dark.

Can I use Purple Shadow instead of Oxide Brown Dark?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Purple Shadow is a little lighter, more saturated, cooler than Oxide Brown Dark.

Can I use Oxide Brown Dark instead of Purple Shadow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Oxide Brown Dark is a little darker, 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.