RAL 490-4 vs Artichoke
RAL 490-4 (RAL Effect) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, RAL 490-4 belongs to the pink-red family and Artichoke to the grey family. The 7-point LRV gap — 28 for RAL 490-4 vs 21 for Artichoke — means RAL 490-4 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 34.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 490-4 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-4 and Artichoke 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. RAL 490-4 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. RAL 490-4 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. RAL 490-4 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. RAL 490-4 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. RAL 490-4 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 490-4 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-4 on one side and Artichoke 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 RAL 490-4 comparisons
See how RAL 490-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 28, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 28), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 60 vs 28, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
With LRVs of 28 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 28, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 28, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
RAL 490-4 reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
RAL 490-4 reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 28), opening up a space where RAL 490-4 encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (31 vs 28) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 28 vs 7, RAL 490-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (28 vs 24) makes RAL 490-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 28, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 28, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.