Paint equivalent guide

Imperium Blue Equivalent

Imperium Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Imperium Blue equivalent is Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 13.9).
For the Imperium Blue equivalent Vallejo, Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 13.9).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Imperium Blue.

Green Stuff World basic #0000FF

Top 5 closest equivalents

These 5 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.

1
Imperial Blue (72.020)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 13.9significant colour distance -- test before committing
2
Ultramarines Blue (72.022)Vallejo Game Color
ΔE 13.9significant colour distance -- test before committing
3
Liche PurpleCitadel (Games Workshop)
ΔE 14.3significant colour distance -- test before committing
4
RAF Extra Dark Sea GreyAK Interactive
ΔE 15.1significant colour distance -- test before committing
5
SC-33 Cobalt BlueScale75
ΔE 15.3significant colour distance -- test before committing

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Imperium Blue?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Imperium Blue in the current local catalogue is Imperial Blue (72.020) from Vallejo Game Color (Delta-E 13.92).

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

Imperium Blue is a paint from Green Stuff World. 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 Imperial Blue (72.020) (Delta E 13.92).

Yes, Imperium Blue is currently part of the Green Stuff World 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.

Imperium Blue is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Imperium Blue equivalent is Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 13.9).
For the Imperium Blue equivalent Vallejo, Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) (ΔE 13.9).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Imperium Blue.

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

The closest Imperium Blue equivalent is Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 13.9. For a Imperium Blue equivalent Vallejo match, Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 13.9 is the closest pick. No close Army Painter equivalent found for Imperium Blue.

Imperium Blue Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) with Delta E 13.9.

Imperium Blue Army Painter equivalent

No Army Painter equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Imperium Blue.

Imperium Blue equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

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

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 13.9
  • Closest Vallejo option : Imperial Blue (72.020) (Vallejo Game Color) – ΔE 13.9
  • Closest Army Painter option : no close Army Painter equivalent

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.