Paint equivalent guide

Imperial Blue Equivalent

IMPERIAL BLUE is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) (ΔE 2.7).
For the IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent Vallejo, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 4.3).
The best IMPERIAL BLUE Army Painter equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) (ΔE 2.7).

AK Interactive acrylic #22274F

Best equivalents by brand

Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
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Direct answer

Which equivalent should you pick for IMPERIAL BLUE?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to IMPERIAL BLUE in the current local catalogue is Triumphant Navy from Army Painter (Delta-E 2.69).

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

IMPERIAL BLUE 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 Night Blue (72.019) (Delta E 4.34).

Yes, IMPERIAL BLUE 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.

IMPERIAL BLUE is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) (ΔE 2.7).
For the IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent Vallejo, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 4.3).
The best IMPERIAL BLUE Army Painter equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) (ΔE 2.7).

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

The closest IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) with Delta E 2.7. For a IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent Vallejo match, Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 4.3 is the closest pick. The best IMPERIAL BLUE Army Painter equivalent is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) with Delta E 2.7.

IMPERIAL BLUE Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 4.3.

IMPERIAL BLUE Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) with Delta E 2.7.

IMPERIAL BLUE equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, IMPERIAL BLUE requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the deep blue range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) – ΔE 2.7
  • Closest Vallejo option : Night Blue (72.019) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 4.3
  • Closest Army Painter option : Triumphant Navy (Army Painter) – ΔE 2.7

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.