Shadow Red vs Violet Red

How close are they?

ΔE 12.0, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Violet Red is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Shadow Red.

Can I use Violet Red instead of Shadow Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Violet Red is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Shadow Red.

Can I use Shadow Red instead of Violet Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Shadow Red 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.