Pitch Black vs RAL 790-3
Pitch Black is a Farrow & Ball color while RAL 790-3 comes from RAL Effect. Pitch Black reads as grey, while RAL 790-3 reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. With LRVs of 5 and 4, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 4.4, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Pitch Black vs RAL 790-3 in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Pitch Black and RAL 790-3 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.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. 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
Pitch Black vs RAL 790-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pitch Black on one side and RAL 790-3 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 Pitch Black comparisons
See how Pitch Black stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 5, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 5, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 5, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 5, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 5, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (13 vs 5) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 5, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 5, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 5, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 5, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (12 vs 5) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 3-point LRV gap (8 vs 5) makes Duck Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 5, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (12 vs 5) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 5, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.