Pearl Blue vs Ultramarine Blue

Pearl Blue

Brand
Tamiya
Range
TS Spray
Code
TS-89
Type
a pearl paint
Swatch
#024691 (estimate)

Ultramarine Blue

Brand
Vallejo
Range
True Metallic Metal
Code
77.150 Shade
Type
a metallic
Swatch
#023069 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 13.6, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Ultramarine Blue is a little darker, more muted than Pearl Blue. They are different kinds of paint: Tamiya Pearl Blue is a pearl paint and Vallejo Ultramarine Blue is a metallic, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Ultramarine Blue instead of Pearl Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Ultramarine Blue is a little darker, more muted than Pearl Blue. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Pearl Blue instead of Ultramarine Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Pearl Blue is a little lighter, more saturated.

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 Pearl Blue on the colour wheel See Ultramarine Blue on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Pearl Blue

Other Tamiya paints close to Ultramarine Blue

All matches: Pearl Blue equivalents · Ultramarine Blue equivalents

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