Russet Brown vs German Red Brown

How close are they?

ΔE 11.4, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. German Red Brown is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Russet Brown.

Can I use German Red Brown instead of Russet Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). German Red Brown is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Russet Brown.

Can I use Russet Brown instead of German Red Brown?

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