Hastur Purple vs Nocturnal Red

How close are they?

ΔE 14.1, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Nocturnal Red is a little darker, more muted, warmer than Hastur Purple.

Can I use Nocturnal Red instead of Hastur Purple?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Nocturnal Red is a little darker, more muted, warmer than Hastur Purple.

Can I use Hastur Purple instead of Nocturnal Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Hastur Purple is a little lighter, more saturated, cooler.

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.