Watercolor Blue vs RAL 180-3
Watercolor Blue (Benjamin Moore) and RAL 180-3 (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 66 vs 68 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 4.4 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Watercolor Blue vs RAL 180-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Watercolor Blue on one side and RAL 180-3 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 Watercolor Blue comparisons
See how Watercolor Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 66, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 69 and 66, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 66 vs 6, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 52, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Watercolor Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 9-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes Watercolor Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 27, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (66 vs 55) makes Watercolor Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 13, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 44, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 66), opening up a space where Watercolor Blue encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 66 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 8-point LRV gap (74 vs 66) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 83 vs 66, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 12, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 66, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 12, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 45, Watercolor Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Watercolor Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.