Blackened Black vs RAL 790-3 paint color comparison

Blackened Black vs RAL 790-3

Blackened BlackJotunvsRAL 790-3RAL EffectΔE 9.6Noticeable difference

Blackened Black is a Jotun color while RAL 790-3 comes from RAL Effect. Hue-wise, Blackened Black belongs to the grey family and RAL 790-3 to the blue-grey family. At LRV 7 vs 4, Blackened Black will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 9.6, 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.

Blackened Black vs RAL 790-3 in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Blackened 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.

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.

Blackened BlackJotun Dempet Sort minimalist bedroom

@interior_hcr

RAL 790-3RAL Effect 790-3 bedroom

@visualization

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.

Blackened BlackJotun Dempet Sort dark bathroom review

@kjerstish

RAL 790-3RAL Effect 790-3 minimalist bathroom

@visualization

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.

Blackened BlackJotun Dempet Sort dark kitchen cabinets paint

@nelly_house

RAL 790-3RAL Effect 790-3 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Color Details

Blackened Black
Jotun · 9938
LRV7.0
BrandJotun
Number9938
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
RAL 790-3
RAL Effect · RAL 790-3
LRV4.5
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 790-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Blackened Black vs RAL 790-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Blackened Black on one side and RAL 790-3 on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Blackened Black comparisons

See how Blackened Black stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Ammonite
Ammonite
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Ammonite vs Blackened Black
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 69 vs 7, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

White Dove
White Dove
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
White Dove vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Iron Ore
Iron Ore
Blackened Black vs Iron Ore
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

With LRVs of 7 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Purbeck Stone
Purbeck Stone
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Purbeck Stone vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 52 vs 7, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Evergreen Fog
Evergreen Fog
Blackened Black vs Evergreen Fog
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 30 vs 7, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.

Mizzle
Mizzle
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Mizzle vs Blackened Black
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Agreeable Gray
Agreeable Gray
Blackened Black vs Agreeable Gray
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 60 vs 7, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Accessible Beige
Accessible Beige
Blackened Black vs Accessible Beige
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Denim Drift
Denim Drift
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Denim Drift vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

French Gray
French Gray
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
French Gray vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 43 vs 7, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Naval
Naval
Blackened Black vs Naval
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Tranquil Dawn
Tranquil Dawn
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Tranquil Dawn vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Bancha
Bancha
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Bancha vs Blackened Black
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Hardwick White
Hardwick White
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Hardwick White vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Pure White
Pure White
Blackened Black vs Pure White
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 84 vs 7, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Artichoke
Artichoke
Blackened Black vs Artichoke
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

At LRV 21 vs 7, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.

Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Balboa Mist vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Shoji White
Shoji White
Blackened Black vs Shoji White
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Snowbound
Snowbound
Blackened Black vs Snowbound
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Pigeon
Pigeon
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Pigeon vs Blackened Black
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 51 vs 7, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Pewter Green
Pewter Green
Blackened Black vs Pewter Green
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Duck Green
Duck Green
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Duck Green vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

With LRVs of 8 and 7, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Skimming Stone
Skimming Stone
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Skimming Stone vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Dix Blue
Dix Blue
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Dix Blue vs Blackened Black
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

At LRV 41 vs 7, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Blackened Black
Hicks' Blue
Blackened Black
Hicks' Blue

Blackened Black vs Hicks' Blue

Blackened Black
Slaked Lime Deep
Blackened Black
Slaked Lime Deep

Blackened Black vs Slaked Lime Deep

Vintage Vogue
Vintage Vogue
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Vintage Vogue vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Blackened Black
Livid
Blackened Black
Livid
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Blackened Black vs Livid

Saybrook Sage
Saybrook Sage
Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Saybrook Sage vs Blackened Black
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 7), opening up a space where Blackened Black encloses it.

Blackened Black
Blackened Black
Pale Green
Pale Green
Blackened Black vs Pale Green
Jotun
Blackened Black
9938 · LRV 7
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

At LRV 31 vs 7, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.