Primer Black Brown vs Matt Varnish

How close are they?

ΔE 75.9, poor: a clearly different colour, so not a substitute. Matt Varnish is noticeably lighter, more muted than Primer Black Brown.

Can I use Matt Varnish instead of Primer Black Brown?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Poor match (ΔE 76). Matt Varnish is noticeably lighter, more muted than Primer Black Brown.

Can I use Primer Black Brown instead of Matt Varnish?

The same difference applies the other way round: Primer Black Brown is noticeably darker, more saturated.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under 2 is a perfect match (you’d struggle to tell them apart), under 6 very close, under 10 close, under 15 fair, under 20 loose, under 30 very loose, and 30 or more a poor match. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.