Colour reference

Payne's Grey

61 Payne's Grey paints from 20 brands, measured in CIE L*a*b* and compared with Delta E 2000.

Why Payne's Grey isn't one colour

Every brand makes its own Payne's Grey, 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 61 of them from 20 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 Payne's Grey 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 61 paints. Below 2 is imperceptible to most people; above 10 is obviously a different colour.

BrandDistance from the averageIn practice
SchminckeDelta E 1.00Near-identical
HolbeinDelta E 1.23Near-identical
Daler-RowneyDelta E 1.42Near-identical
SennelierDelta E 1.60Near-identical
Daniel SmithDelta E 1.64Near-identical
M. GrahamDelta E 1.71Near-identical
MaimeriDelta E 2.01Very close
Nevskaya PalitraDelta E 2.01Very close
AmsterdamDelta E 2.38Very close
LiquitexDelta E 2.57Very close
LukasDelta E 2.62Very close
Royal TalensDelta E 2.65Very close
WilliamsburgDelta E 2.78Very close
Winsor & NewtonDelta E 3.06Very close
MatisseDelta E 3.27Very close
Michael HardingDelta E 3.27Very close
VallejoDelta E 3.36Very close
GoldenDelta E 4.32Very close
GamblinDelta E 4.63Very close
AtelierDelta E 5.69Noticeably different

Which brands are interchangeable?

The closest pairs among 190 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
  • Daler-RowneyvsSennelierDelta E 0.57Near-identical
  • Daniel SmithvsM. GrahamDelta E 0.58Near-identical
  • LukasvsMatisseDelta E 0.90Near-identical
  • LukasvsMichael HardingDelta E 0.90Near-identical

Which brands are clearly different?

The furthest apart. Same name on the tube, visibly different paint.

  • AteliervsGamblinDelta E 10.25Clearly different
  • AteliervsGoldenDelta E 8.88Noticeably different
  • AteliervsMichael HardingDelta E 8.84Noticeably different
  • AteliervsMatisseDelta E 8.84Noticeably different
  • AteliervsLukasDelta E 8.19Noticeably different
  • AteliervsLiquitexDelta E 7.99Noticeably different

Pigments used

Brands do not always use the same pigment for the same colour name.

PB15:3,PBk9

Sennelier

PB29, PBk11

Matisse

PB29, PBk11, PY42

Vallejo

PB29, PBk7

Atelier, Golden, Liquitex, Winsor & Newton

PB29, PBk9

Daler-Rowney, Gamblin, Golden, Liquitex, Lukas, Maimeri, Michael Harding, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Williamsburg

PB29, PY42, PBk11

Vallejo

PB29,PBk11

Daler-Rowney

PB29,PBk7

Daler-Rowney

PB29,PBk9

Holbein

PBk7,PB29

Daler-Rowney

PBk7,PB29,PV19,PW6

Amsterdam

PBk7,PV15,PV79

Amsterdam

PBk9, PB15, PV19

Winsor & Newton

PBk9, PB29

Daniel Smith, Holbein, Liquitex, M. Graham, Royal Talens, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton

PBk9,PB15,PV19

Winsor & Newton

PBk9,PB15:3

Schmincke, Sennelier

PG29, PBk7

Nevskaya Palitra

PR101, PBk11, PB15

Atelier

PR264, PG7

Lukas

Lightfastness

How well the colour resists fading. ASTM I is the most permanent; V is fugitive.

I

Amsterdam, Atelier, Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Vallejo, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton

II

Nevskaya Palitra

Opacity

How much the paint covers what is underneath.

Opaque

Daler-Rowney, Golden, Holbein, Lukas, Sennelier, Vallejo, Winsor & Newton

Semi-Opaque

Amsterdam, Daler-Rowney, Golden, Maimeri, Matisse, Williamsburg

Semi-Transparent

Atelier, Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Liquitex, Lukas, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton

Transparent

Atelier, Daler-Rowney

Brands that make it

Every brand in the database with a Payne's Grey. Each links to that brand's full range.

Available in

The kinds of paint this colour is made as.

Closest other colours

If you cannot get this one, these sit nearest to it across the same brands.

Every Payne's Grey we have measured

All 61 paints, with the measurements the comparisons above are built from.

BrandLineMedium HexL*a*b*PigmentOpacityLightfastness
AmsterdamExpert Seriesacrylic#3c415027.6, 1.8, -9.7PBk7,PB29,PV19,PW6Semi-OpaqueI
AmsterdamStandard Seriesacrylic#3c414b27.4, 0.4, -6.8PBk7,PV15,PV79Semi-OpaqueI
AtelierA2 Lightfastacrylic#363b4624.8, 0.7, -7.5PR101, PBk11, PB15Semi-TransparentI
AtelierFree Flowacrylic#49526634.8, 1.5, -12.8PB29, PBk7TransparentI
AtelierInteractiveacrylic#49516b34.7, 3.6, -16.0PB29, PBk7TransparentI
Daler-RowneyAquafinewatercolor#373c5025.6, 3.3, -12.8PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
Daler-RowneyAquafine Gouachegouache#373c5025.6, 3.3, -12.8PBk7,PB29OpaqueI
Daler-RowneyArtists' Watercolourwatercolor#373c5025.6, 3.3, -12.8PBk7,PB29TransparentI
Daler-RowneyCryla Artists' Acrylicacrylic#0f1f2a10.9, -2.7, -9.5PB29,PBk11TransparentI
Daler-RowneyGeorgian Oil Colorsoil#3a3a4824.9, 3.5, -8.6PBk7,PB29Semi-OpaqueI
Daler-RowneyGeorgian Water Mixable Oiloil#3a3a4824.9, 3.5, -8.6PB29,PBk7Semi-OpaqueI
Daler-RowneyGraduateacrylic#373c4b25.4, 1.8, -9.8PB29,PBk7Semi-TransparentI
Daler-RowneySystem3acrylic#3c415027.6, 1.8, -9.7PB29,PBk11OpaqueI
Daniel SmithExtra Fine Watercolorswatercolor#30374422.9, 0.6, -9.0PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
GamblinArtist's Oil Colorsoil#282d3718.4, 0.6, -7.1PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
GoldenFluidacrylic#38393c24.1, 0.1, -2.0PB29, PBk7Semi-TransparentI
GoldenHeavy Bodyacrylic#282d3718.4, 0.6, -7.1PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
GoldenHeavy Bodyacrylic#31343921.6, -0.1, -3.6PB29, PBk7OpaqueI
GoldenHeavy Bodyacrylic#37393b23.9, -0.4, -1.5PB29, PBk7Semi-OpaqueI
GoldenHeavy Bodyacrylic#36383b23.5, -0.0, -2.2PB29, PBk7Semi-OpaqueI
GoldenOPENacrylic#37393b23.7, -0.1, -1.8PB29, PBk7Semi-OpaqueI
GoldenQoR Modern Watercolorswatercolor#3c415027.6, 1.8, -9.7PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
GoldenSoFlatacrylic#31343921.6, -0.3, -3.5PB29, PBk7OpaqueI
HolbeinAcryla Gouachegouache#3e485c30.5, 1.3, -13.1PBk9, PB29OpaqueI
HolbeinArtists' Oil Coloroil#2d343e21.4, -0.3, -7.3PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
HolbeinArtists' Watercolorwatercolor#343c4b25.2, 0.7, -10.2PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
HolbeinHeavy Body Acrylicacrylic#32374623.2, 1.9, -10.0PB29,PBk9Semi-TransparentI
LiquitexBasicsacrylic#2d374b23.0, 1.7, -13.6PB29, PBk7Semi-TransparentI
LiquitexProfessional Heavy Bodyacrylic#2a303a19.7, 0.1, -7.2PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
LiquitexSoft Bodyacrylic#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
Lukas1862 Artists' Oiloil#30343e21.7, 0.9, -6.8PR264, PG7OpaqueI
LukasBerlin Water-Mixable Oiloil#30343e21.7, 0.9, -6.8PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
M. GrahamArtists' Oil Colorsoil#2a303a19.7, 0.1, -7.2PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
M. GrahamArtists' Watercolorwatercolor#37415227.3, 0.6, -11.6PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
MaimeriClassicooil#34374123.1, 1.3, -6.6PB29, PBk9Semi-OpaqueI
MatisseFlow Formulaacrylic#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PB29, PBk11Semi-OpaqueI
MatisseFluidacrylic#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PB29, PBk11Semi-OpaqueI
MatisseStructure Formulaacrylic#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PB29, PBk11Semi-OpaqueI
Michael HardingArtists Oil Coloursoil#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
Nevskaya PalitraMaster Classoil#34374123.1, 1.3, -6.6PG29, PBk7Semi-TransparentII
Royal TalensRembrandt Oil Colorsoil#3a3a4824.9, 3.5, -8.6PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
Royal TalensVan Goghwatercolor#373c5025.6, 3.3, -12.8PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
SchminckeAKADEMIE Acrylicacrylic#373c4b25.4, 1.8, -9.8PBk9,PB15:3Semi-TransparentI
SchminckeNorma Professionaloil#373c4b25.4, 1.8, -9.8PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
SennelierAbstract Acrylicacrylic#373c4b25.4, 1.8, -9.8PBk9,PB15:3Semi-TransparentI
SennelierArtists' Oil Colorsoil#37374623.6, 3.8, -9.2PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
SennelierExtra-Fine Acryliqueacrylic#32374623.2, 1.9, -10.0PB15:3,PBk9Semi-TransparentI
SennelierRive Gaucheoil#32374623.2, 1.9, -10.0PB29, PBk9OpaqueI
Sennelierl'Aquarellewatercolor#373c5025.6, 3.3, -12.8PB29, PBk9Semi-TransparentI
VallejoAcrylic Artist Coloracrylic#32374b23.4, 3.4, -13.0PB29, PY42, PBk11OpaqueI
VallejoAcrylic Studioacrylic#32374b23.4, 3.4, -13.0PB29, PBk11, PY42OpaqueI
VallejoFluid Acrylicacrylic#32374b23.4, 3.4, -13.0PB29, PY42, PBk11OpaqueI
WilliamsburgHandmade Oil Colorsoil#37374423.6, 3.2, -8.0PB29, PBk9Semi-OpaqueI
Winsor & NewtonArtisan Water Mixable Oiloil#41465529.8, 1.7, -9.6PBk9, PB15, PV19Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonArtists' Oil Colouroil#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonCotman Watercolourwatercolor#3e485c30.5, 1.3, -13.1PB29, PBk7Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonDesigners Gouachegouache#48526934.9, 2.0, -14.6PBk9, PB29OpaqueI
Winsor & NewtonGaleriaacrylic#2d323c20.7, 0.5, -7.0PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonProfessional Acrylicacrylic#41465529.8, 1.7, -9.6PBk9,PB15,PV19Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonProfessional Watercolourwatercolor#3e485c30.5, 1.3, -13.1PBk9, PB29Semi-TransparentI
Winsor & NewtonWinton Oil Colouroil#41465529.8, 1.7, -9.6PBk9, PB15, PV19Semi-TransparentI
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