What is the difference between Navy Blue and Blue Violet?

ΔE 14 (fair). Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Navy Blue vs Blue Violet

Navy Blue

Brand: Tamiya
Range: AS Spray (aircraft)
Code: AS-8
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #023e87 (estimate)

Blue Violet

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.811
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #514788 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 14.4, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Navy Blue.

Can I use Blue Violet instead of Navy Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Blue Violet is a little lighter, more muted, warmer than Navy Blue.

Can I use Navy Blue instead of Blue Violet?

The same difference applies the other way round: Navy Blue is a little darker, 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.

See Navy Blue on the colour wheel See Blue Violet on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Navy Blue

Navy Blue vs Royal Blue (70.809)Model Color · ΔE 8, close · closer than Blue Violet
Navy Blue vs Imperial Blue (72.020)Game Color · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Blue Violet
Navy Blue vs Violet Vamp (74.030)Fantasy-Pro · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Blue Violet

Other Tamiya paints close to Blue Violet

Blue Violet vs Purple (X-16)X Gloss Acrylic · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Navy Blue
Blue Violet vs Purple (TS-24)TS Spray · ΔE 3, very close · closer than Navy Blue
Blue Violet vs Translucent Purple (PS-45)PS Spray (polycarbonate) · ΔE 9, close · closer than Navy Blue

All matches: Navy Blue equivalents · Blue Violet equivalents