Paint equivalent guide

Royal Purple (72.016) Equivalent

Royal Purple (72.016) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent is Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 1.3).
For the Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent Vallejo, Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 1.3).
The best Royal Purple (72.016) Army Painter equivalent is Diabolic Plum (Army Painter) (ΔE 8.5).

Vallejo Game Color acrylic #5A2880

Top 3 closest equivalents

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

1
Violet (70.960)Vallejo Model Color
ΔE 1.3slight colour difference, well within acceptable range
2
SC-39 Deep VioletScale75
ΔE 3.2moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection
3
VioletScale75
ΔE 3.8moderate colour difference, noticeable on close inspection

Best equivalents by brand

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

Which equivalent should you pick for Royal Purple (72.016)?

The closest cross-brand equivalent to Royal Purple (72.016) in the current local catalogue is Violet (70.960) from Vallejo Model Color (Delta-E 1.32).

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

Royal Purple (72.016) is a paint from Vallejo Game Color. 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 Violet (70.960) (Delta E 1.32).

Yes, Royal Purple (72.016) is currently part of the Vallejo Game Color 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.

Royal Purple (72.016) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.
The closest Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent is Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 1.3).
For the Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent Vallejo, Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 1.3).
The best Royal Purple (72.016) Army Painter equivalent is Diabolic Plum (Army Painter) (ΔE 8.5).

Royal Purple (72.016) is a key paint in the Citadel range, valued for its consistent finish and reliable coverage across Warhammer projects.

The closest Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent is Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 1.3. For a Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent Vallejo match, Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 1.3 is the closest pick. The best Royal Purple (72.016) Army Painter equivalent is Diabolic Plum (Army Painter) with Delta E 8.5.

Royal Purple (72.016) Vallejo equivalent

The closest Vallejo match is Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 1.3.

Royal Purple (72.016) Army Painter equivalent

The best Army Painter option is Diabolic Plum (Army Painter) with Delta E 8.5.

Royal Purple (72.016) equivalent and alternative: brand comparison

As a paint, Royal Purple (72.016) requires specific handling that affects how any substitute performs. The colour sits in the purple range.

Brand comparison

  • Closest equivalent : Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 1.3
  • Closest Vallejo option : Violet (70.960) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 1.3
  • Closest Army Painter option : Diabolic Plum (Army Painter) – ΔE 8.5

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.