Contrast Paint

Black Templar Equivalent

As a Contrast paint, this colour combines pigment and medium to deliver shade and base tone in one application over a light primer. Near-black tones create deep shadows, weapon bodies, and armour undercoats across every miniature project..
The closest Black Templar equivalent is Inktense Black (Scale75) (ΔE 0.3).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Black Templar.
The best Black Templar Army Painter equivalent is Grim Black (Army Painter) (ΔE 5.7).

Citadel (Games Workshop) contrast #171717

Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
Inktense BlackScale75
ΔE 0.3excellent colour match with minimal perceptible difference
2
Grim BlackArmy Painter
ΔE 5.7moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
Fertile SoilArmy Painter
ΔE 16.3significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Black Templar?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Black Templar in the current local catalogue is Inktense Black from Scale75 (Delta-E 0.31).

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 contrast

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

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Frequently asked questions

Black Templar is a contrast paint formulated for one-coat colour and shading over light primer. Its transparency and reactive edge behaviour are harder to replicate with standard opaque paints.

No reliable Vallejo match appears in the current top equivalents.

Yes, Black Templar is currently part of the Citadel (Games Workshop) 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.

As a Contrast paint, this colour combines pigment and medium to deliver shade and base tone in one application over a light primer. Near-black tones create deep shadows, weapon bodies, and armour undercoats across every miniature project..
The closest Black Templar equivalent is Inktense Black (Scale75) (ΔE 0.3).
No close Vallejo equivalent found for Black Templar.
The best Black Templar Army Painter equivalent is Grim Black (Army Painter) (ΔE 5.7).

As a Contrast paint, this colour combines pigment and medium to deliver shade and base tone in one application over a light primer. Near-black tones create deep shadows, weapon bodies, and armour undercoats across every miniature project.. Noir semi-transparent qui garde de la profondeur. Moins opaque qu'Abaddon Black — les zones en relief restent légèrement plus claires.

The closest Black Templar equivalent is Inktense Black (Scale75) with Delta E 0.3. No close Vallejo equivalent found for Black Templar. The best Black Templar Army Painter equivalent is Grim Black (Army Painter) with Delta E 5.7.

Black Templar Vallejo equivalent

No Vallejo equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Black Templar.

Black Templar Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Grim Black (Army Painter) with Delta E 5.7.

Black Templar equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a contrast paint, Black Templar combines colour and shading in a single coat over a light primer. The colour sits in the near-black range.

Wraithbone primer requirement

The performance of Black Templar depends heavily on the primer. It is designed for a white primer.

Transparency and blotching

Black Templar is transparent by design, which means any substitute must also level evenly.

One-coat coverage

The main appeal of Black Templar is one-coat readiness.

Reactive colour shift

The near-black tone of Black Templar shifts as it dries, typically darkening and intensifying.

Corax White, Administratum Grey and Ironbreaker are common companions to this contrast. They were chosen in the original recipe because their coverage, drying speed, and finish layer in the same workflow without forcing extra corrections.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Inktense Black (Scale75) – ΔE 0.3
  • Closest Vallejo option : no close Vallejo equivalent
  • Closest Army Painter option : Grim Black (Army Painter) – ΔE 5.7

A contrast 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 contrast paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.

That is why the page keeps the recommendation anchored to painting workflow instead of treating Delta-E alone as the final decision.

A useful equivalent page should also reduce buying mistakes: the closer colour is not always the safer option if the bottle dries glossier, covers faster, or behaves differently on large armour panels.