Cerulean Blue
36 Cerulean Blue paints from 19 brands, measured in CIE L*a*b* and compared with Delta E 2000.
Why Cerulean Blue isn't one colour
Every brand makes its own Cerulean Blue, and no two are quite the same. They pick different pigments, grind them differently and mix them to their own recipe — so two tubes with the same word on the label can look noticeably different once they are on the paper.
We measured all 36 of them from 19 brands and compared them the way a lab would, using a number called Delta E. It is just a measure of how far apart two colours look to the human eye. Under 2 and almost nobody can tell them apart; over 10 and most people would call them different colours.
Useful when your usual Cerulean Blue is out of stock and you need the closest substitute, when you are deciding which brand to buy, or when a mix you got right last time will not come out the same again.
How far is each brand from the average?
Every brand's version measured against the average of all 36 paints. Below 2 is imperceptible to most people; above 10 is obviously a different colour.
| Brand | Distance from the average | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Holbein | Delta E 0.74 | Near-identical |
| M. Graham | Delta E 0.77 | Near-identical |
| Matisse | Delta E 0.80 | Near-identical |
| Michael Harding | Delta E 0.80 | Near-identical |
| Daniel Smith | Delta E 0.87 | Near-identical |
| Old Holland | Delta E 0.99 | Near-identical |
| Williamsburg | Delta E 0.99 | Near-identical |
| Schmincke | Delta E 1.19 | Near-identical |
| Sennelier | Delta E 1.56 | Near-identical |
| Winsor & Newton | Delta E 1.58 | Near-identical |
| Royal Talens | Delta E 1.75 | Near-identical |
| Liquitex | Delta E 1.98 | Near-identical |
| Vallejo | Delta E 2.06 | Very close |
| Gamblin | Delta E 2.29 | Very close |
| Lukas | Delta E 3.19 | Very close |
| Maimeri | Delta E 3.41 | Very close |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Delta E 3.41 | Very close |
| Golden | Delta E 4.39 | Very close |
| Atelier | Delta E 8.58 | Noticeably different |
Which brands are interchangeable?
The closest pairs among 171 brand comparisons - swap one for another and most people would not see the difference.
- MaimerivsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- MatissevsMichael HardingDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Old HollandvsWilliamsburgDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsM. GrahamDelta E 0.34Near-identical
- Royal TalensvsSennelierDelta E 0.39Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsOld HollandDelta E 0.52Near-identical
Which brands are clearly different?
The furthest apart. Same name on the tube, visibly different paint.
- AteliervsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 11.45Clearly different
- AteliervsMaimeriDelta E 11.45Clearly different
- AteliervsGoldenDelta E 11.32Clearly different
- AteliervsSchminckeDelta E 9.80Noticeably different
- AteliervsVallejoDelta E 9.74Noticeably different
- AteliervsRoyal TalensDelta E 9.51Noticeably different
Pigments used
Brands do not always use the same pigment for the same colour name.
Vallejo
Nevskaya Palitra
Schmincke
Atelier
Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Liquitex, Maimeri, Matisse, Schmincke
Maimeri
Schmincke
Lukas
Lightfastness
How well the colour resists fading. ASTM I is the most permanent; V is fugitive.
Atelier, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
These brands publish their own lightfastness scale rather than ASTM I-V, so the ratings below are not directly comparable with those above.
Vallejo
Opacity
How much the paint covers what is underneath.
Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Old Holland, Royal Talens, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Golden, Maimeri, Matisse, Nevskaya Palitra, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier
Atelier
Vallejo
Brands that make it
Every brand in the database with a Cerulean Blue. Each links to that brand's full range.
- Atelier · 1 paint
- Daniel Smith · 1 paint
- Gamblin · 1 paint
- Golden · 1 paint
- Holbein · 4 paints
- Liquitex · 1 paint
- Lukas · 1 paint
- M. Graham · 2 paints
- Maimeri · 2 paints
- Matisse · 3 paints
- Michael Harding · 1 paint
- Nevskaya Palitra · 2 paints
- Old Holland · 1 paint
- Royal Talens · 2 paints
- Schmincke · 3 paints
- Sennelier · 3 paints
- Vallejo · 1 paint
- Williamsburg · 1 paint
- Winsor & Newton · 5 paints
Available in
The kinds of paint this colour is made as.
Every Cerulean Blue we have measured
All 36 paints, with the measurements the comparisons above are built from.
| Brand | Line | Medium | Hex | L*a*b* | Pigment | Opacity | Lightfastness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atelier | Interactive | acrylic | #2477ba | 48.4, -0.5, -42.1 | PB28, PG50 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Daniel Smith | Extra Fine Watercolors | watercolor | #2a8abe | 54.4, -9.5, -34.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Gamblin | Artist's Oil Colors | oil | #2686ba | 53.0, -9.1, -34.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Golden | QoR Modern Watercolors | watercolor | #5096c8 | 59.6, -7.1, -32.4 | PB35 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Acryla Gouache | gouache | #3798ca | 59.5, -11.6, -33.8 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Oil Color | oil | #2887bc | 53.4, -8.8, -35.4 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #2d8ec3 | 55.9, -9.7, -35.4 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Heavy Body Acrylic | acrylic | #238cc3 | 55.1, -9.6, -36.7 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Liquitex | Professional Heavy Body | acrylic | #2887b9 | 53.2, -9.8, -33.9 | PB36 | Opaque | I | |
| Lukas | 1862 Artists' Oil | oil | #2687b2 | 52.9, -12.5, -30.4 | PW5, PB36 | Opaque | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #2684b9 | 52.3, -8.3, -35.4 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #3091c6 | 57.0, -10.0, -35.4 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Maimeri | Classico | oil | #3791b9 | 56.6, -13.5, -28.6 | PB36, PB15:1 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Maimeri | Puro | oil | #3791b9 | 56.6, -13.5, -28.6 | PB36 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Flow Formula | acrylic | #288cbe | 55.0, -10.9, -34.0 | PB36 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Fluid | acrylic | #288cbe | 55.0, -10.9, -34.0 | PB36 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Structure Formula | acrylic | #288cbe | 55.0, -10.9, -34.0 | PB36 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Michael Harding | Artists Oil Colours | oil | #288cbe | 55.0, -10.9, -34.0 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Ladoga | oil | #3791b9 | 56.6, -13.5, -28.6 | PB15 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Master Class | oil | #3791b9 | 56.6, -13.5, -28.6 | PB35 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Old Holland | Classic Oil Colors | oil | #2a8abc | 54.3, -10.2, -33.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Royal Talens | Rembrandt Oil Colors | oil | #2a8abc | 54.3, -10.2, -33.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Royal Talens | Van Gogh | watercolor | #5096c8 | 59.6, -7.1, -32.4 | PB35 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Designers' Gouache | gouache | #4196c8 | 59.1, -9.7, -33.3 | PB15:3, PW6 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | Norma Professional | oil | #3291c3 | 57.0, -10.8, -33.8 | PB36, PW6 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Schmincke | PRIMAcryl | acrylic | #0087b9 | 52.8, -12.4, -34.7 | PB36 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #2887b9 | 53.2, -9.8, -33.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Extra-Fine Acrylique | acrylic | #3791c8 | 57.3, -8.4, -36.1 | PB35 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | l'Aquarelle | watercolor | #5096c8 | 59.6, -7.1, -32.4 | PB35 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Vallejo | Liquid Watercolor | watercolor | #3791c8 | 57.3, -8.4, -36.1 | Dye | Transparent | ★★★ | |
| Williamsburg | Handmade Oil Colors | oil | #2a8abc | 54.3, -10.2, -33.9 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artisan Water Mixable Oil | oil | #007db9 | 49.7, -6.6, -39.5 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artists' Oil Colour | oil | #2382b9 | 51.6, -7.5, -36.4 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Designers Gouache | gouache | #3e9ed4 | 61.9, -10.6, -35.7 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Acrylic | acrylic | #007db9 | 49.7, -6.6, -39.5 | PB35 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Watercolour | watercolor | #3494ca | 58.2, -9.8, -35.8 | PB35 | Opaque | I |
