Paint equivalent guide

Clear Smoke Equivalent

Clear Smoke is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Clear Smoke equivalent is Grey Seer (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 3.0).
For the Clear Smoke equivalent Vallejo, Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 5.6).
The best Clear Smoke Army Painter equivalent is Grey Castle (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.6).

AK Interactive lacquer #ABA9AA

Top 3 closest equivalents

These 3 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Grey SeerCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 3.0slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
SC-03 GraphiteScale75
ΔE 4.3moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Iron Hands SteelCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 5.5moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
Computing Delta-E…
Buy it now · Clear Smoke
Compare stock and prices · Clear Smoke
Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for Clear Smoke?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Clear Smoke in the current local catalogue is Grey Seer from Citadel (Games Workshop) (Delta-E 2.99).

Method

Matches are computed from the local paint catalogue with Delta-E CIEDE2000. Lower values mean a closer visual match on the miniature.

Limits

Finish, opacity, flow, and bottle format are not captured by Delta-E alone. Test the substitute if the recipe relies on a specific behaviour.

What to check before replacing this base

Before adopting a substitute, check these points specific to this base paint:

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Frequently asked questions

Clear Smoke is a paint from AK Interactive. Its specific pigment load, drying behaviour, and finish set it apart from other paints in the same category, which is why a direct substitute needs to match more than just the colour value.

The closest Vallejo option is Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Delta E 5.61).

Yes, Clear Smoke is currently part of the AK Interactive range. Check local stock or equivalent alternatives if the pot is hard to source.

Check Delta-E, finish type, coverage, opacity, and behaviour over your chosen primer. Run a full test with one shade and one highlight pass before applying the substitute to an entire unit.

Clear Smoke is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Clear Smoke equivalent is Grey Seer (Citadel (Games Workshop)) (ΔE 3.0).
For the Clear Smoke equivalent Vallejo, Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 5.6).
The best Clear Smoke Army Painter equivalent is Grey Castle (Army Painter) (ΔE 6.6).

Clear Smoke is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Clear Smoke equivalent is Grey Seer (Citadel (Games Workshop)) with Delta E 3.0. For a Clear Smoke equivalent Vallejo match, Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 5.6 is the closest pick. The best Clear Smoke Army Painter equivalent is Grey Castle (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.6.

Clear Smoke Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 5.6.

Clear Smoke Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Grey Castle (Army Painter) with Delta E 6.6.

Clear Smoke equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Clear Smoke requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the neutral grey range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Grey Seer (Citadel (Games Workshop)) – ΔE 3.0
  • Closest Vallejo option : Stonewall Grey (72.049) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 5.6
  • Closest Army Painter option : Grey Castle (Army Painter) – ΔE 6.6

A paint substitute only becomes trustworthy once it survives the same primer, shade, and highlight sequence as the original recipe.

Looking at the surrounding palette matters because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, or flatter than expected.

That combination of colour distance, finish, and recipe context is what makes a paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.