Prussian Blue
45 Prussian Blue paints from 16 brands, measured in CIE L*a*b* and compared with Delta E 2000.
Why Prussian Blue isn't one colour
Every brand makes its own Prussian 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 45 of them from 16 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 Prussian 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 45 paints. Below 2 is imperceptible to most people; above 10 is obviously a different colour.
| Brand | Distance from the average | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Lukas | Delta E 0.50 | Near-identical |
| Sennelier | Delta E 0.69 | Near-identical |
| Holbein | Delta E 0.73 | Near-identical |
| Winsor & Newton | Delta E 0.80 | Near-identical |
| Gamblin | Delta E 0.93 | Near-identical |
| Daniel Smith | Delta E 0.96 | Near-identical |
| Williamsburg | Delta E 0.96 | Near-identical |
| Royal Talens | Delta E 1.00 | Near-identical |
| M. Graham | Delta E 1.02 | Near-identical |
| Schmincke | Delta E 1.05 | Near-identical |
| Daler-Rowney | Delta E 1.07 | Near-identical |
| Golden | Delta E 1.78 | Near-identical |
| Matisse | Delta E 1.97 | Near-identical |
| Michael Harding | Delta E 2.12 | Very close |
| Maimeri | Delta E 2.88 | Very close |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Delta E 2.88 | Very close |
Which brands are interchangeable?
The closest pairs among 120 brand comparisons - swap one for another and most people would not see the difference.
- Daniel SmithvsWilliamsburgDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- MaimerivsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 0.00Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsM. GrahamDelta E 0.17Near-identical
- M. GrahamvsWilliamsburgDelta E 0.17Near-identical
- Daniel SmithvsHolbeinDelta E 0.35Near-identical
- HolbeinvsWilliamsburgDelta E 0.35Near-identical
Which brands are clearly different?
The furthest apart. Same name on the tube, visibly different paint.
- Michael HardingvsNevskaya PalitraDelta E 3.94Very close
- MaimerivsMichael HardingDelta E 3.94Very close
- Nevskaya PalitravsSchminckeDelta E 3.63Very close
- MaimerivsSchminckeDelta E 3.63Very close
- Nevskaya PalitravsSennelierDelta E 3.52Very close
- MaimerivsSennelierDelta E 3.52Very close
Pigments used
Brands do not always use the same pigment for the same colour name.
Daler-Rowney
Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Daler-Rowney
Lightfastness
How well the colour resists fading. ASTM I is the most permanent; V is fugitive.
Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Lukas, M. Graham, Maimeri, Matisse, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton
Nevskaya Palitra
Opacity
How much the paint covers what is underneath.
Holbein, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton
Daler-Rowney, Maimeri, Matisse
Schmincke, Williamsburg
Daler-Rowney, Daniel Smith, Gamblin, Golden, Holbein, Lukas, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Nevskaya Palitra, Royal Talens, Schmincke, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton
Brands that make it
Every brand in the database with a Prussian Blue. Each links to that brand's full range.
- Daler-Rowney · 5 paints
- Daniel Smith · 1 paint
- Gamblin · 1 paint
- Golden · 1 paint
- Holbein · 4 paints
- Lukas · 2 paints
- M. Graham · 2 paints
- Maimeri · 2 paints
- Matisse · 2 paints
- Michael Harding · 1 paint
- Nevskaya Palitra · 3 paints
- Royal Talens · 2 paints
- Schmincke · 5 paints
- Sennelier · 6 paints
- Williamsburg · 1 paint
- Winsor & Newton · 7 paints
Available in
The kinds of paint this colour is made as.
Every Prussian Blue we have measured
All 45 paints, with the measurements the comparisons above are built from.
| Brand | Line | Medium | Hex | L*a*b* | Pigment | Opacity | Lightfastness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine | watercolor | #1e325a | 21.2, 6.4, -26.5 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Aquafine Gouache | gouache | #19325f | 21.3, 7.4, -29.7 | PB27,PW6 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Artists' Watercolour | watercolor | #19325f | 21.3, 7.4, -29.7 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Oil Colors | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Daler-Rowney | Georgian Water Mixable Oil | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB15,PBk9 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Daniel Smith | Extra Fine Watercolors | watercolor | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Gamblin | Artist's Oil Colors | oil | #0f2b54 | 17.8, 6.2, -28.0 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Golden | QoR Modern Watercolors | watercolor | #1e325a | 21.2, 6.4, -26.5 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Acryla Gouache | gouache | #163762 | 22.9, 4.6, -28.9 | PB27 | Opaque | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Oil Color | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #12305a | 20.0, 5.6, -28.5 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Holbein | Heavy Body Acrylic | acrylic | #0f2850 | 16.5, 6.7, -27.3 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Lukas | 1862 Artists' Oil | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Lukas | Berlin Water-Mixable Oil | oil | #0f2a52 | 17.3, 6.1, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #122d55 | 18.6, 5.7, -27.3 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| M. Graham | Artists' Watercolor | watercolor | #14345c | 21.5, 3.9, -27.3 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Maimeri | Classico | oil | #192d4b | 18.3, 2.9, -21.0 | PB27 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Maimeri | Puro | oil | #192d4b | 18.3, 2.9, -21.0 | PB27 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Flow Formula | acrylic | #0f2850 | 16.5, 6.7, -27.3 | PB27 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Matisse | Structure Formula | acrylic | #0f2850 | 16.5, 6.7, -27.3 | PB27 | Semi-Opaque | I | |
| Michael Harding | Artists Oil Colours | oil | #0f2855 | 16.9, 8.9, -30.1 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Ladoga | oil | #192d4b | 18.3, 2.9, -21.0 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Master Class | oil | #192d4b | 18.3, 2.9, -21.0 | PB27 | Transparent | II | |
| Nevskaya Palitra | Sonnet | oil | #192d4b | 18.3, 2.9, -21.0 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Royal Talens | Rembrandt Oil Colors | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Royal Talens | Van Gogh | watercolor | #1e325a | 21.2, 6.4, -26.5 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | AKADEMIE Acrylic | acrylic | #00285a | 16.8, 9.5, -33.6 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Horadam Aquarell | watercolor | #0f2d5f | 19.2, 9.6, -32.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Mussini Oil Colors | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | Norma Professional | oil | #0f2855 | 16.9, 8.9, -30.1 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Schmincke | PRIMAcryl | acrylic | #0f2d55 | 18.5, 5.2, -27.5 | PB27 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Abstract Acrylic | acrylic | #00285a | 16.8, 9.5, -33.6 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Artists' Oil Colors | oil | #142d55 | 18.7, 6.0, -27.1 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Extra-Fine Acrylique | acrylic | #002d5f | 18.8, 8.0, -33.7 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Sennelier | Gouache | gouache | #19325f | 21.3, 7.4, -29.7 | PB27 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | Rive Gauche | oil | #19325a | 20.9, 5.4, -26.9 | PB27 | Opaque | I | |
| Sennelier | l'Aquarelle | watercolor | #1e325a | 21.2, 6.4, -26.5 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Williamsburg | Handmade Oil Colors | oil | #123058 | 19.8, 4.8, -27.4 | PB27 | Semi-Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artisan Water Mixable Oil | oil | #002350 | 14.3, 8.6, -30.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Artists' Oil Colour | oil | #0f2850 | 16.5, 6.7, -27.3 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Cotman Watercolour | watercolor | #163762 | 22.9, 4.6, -28.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Designers Gouache | gouache | #1c3e6c | 26.1, 4.8, -30.4 | PB27 | Opaque | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Acrylic | acrylic | #002350 | 14.3, 8.6, -30.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Professional Watercolour | watercolor | #163762 | 22.9, 4.6, -28.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I | |
| Winsor & Newton | Winton Oil Colour | oil | #002350 | 14.3, 8.6, -30.9 | PB27 | Transparent | I |
