Black Tar vs Obsidian Green
Black Tar (Benjamin Moore) and Obsidian Green (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Black Tar reads as grey, while Obsidian Green reads as green — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 4-point LRV gap — 6 for Black Tar vs 1 for Obsidian Green — means Black Tar will open up a space more effectively. Where Black Tar leans blue, Obsidian Green reads green — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 15.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Tar vs Obsidian Green in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Tar and Obsidian Green in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Black Tar reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Black Tar has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Black Tar has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Black Tar vs Obsidian Green Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Tar on one side and Obsidian Green on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Black Tar comparisons
See how Black Tar stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
