Plum Cake vs RAL 540-1
Plum Cake is a Cloverdale Paint color while RAL 540-1 comes from RAL Effect. Hue-wise, Plum Cake belongs to the purple family and RAL 540-1 to the pink-purple family. With LRVs of 57 and 58, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 3.6, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Plum Cake vs RAL 540-1 in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Plum Cake and RAL 540-1 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Color Details
Plum Cake vs RAL 540-1 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Plum Cake on one side and RAL 540-1 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 Plum Cake comparisons
See how Plum Cake stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 57, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Plum Cake reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Plum Cake reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 57), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 27, Plum Cake is decisively the brighter choice.
Plum Cake reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 57 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 44, Plum Cake is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 57), opening up a space where Plum Cake encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (66 vs 57) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 57, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 12, Plum Cake is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 8, Plum Cake is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (68 vs 57) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 12, Plum Cake is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (57 vs 45) makes Plum Cake the marginally brighter of the two.
Plum Cake reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.