RAL 790-5 vs Black Emerald
Where RAL 790-5 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Black Emerald is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, RAL 790-5 belongs to the grey family and Black Emerald to the blue-green family. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (4 vs 1), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. The ΔE 8.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 790-5 vs Black Emerald in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. RAL 790-5 and Black Emerald 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.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. 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 Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Color Details
RAL 790-5 vs Black Emerald Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 790-5 on one side and Black Emerald 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 790-5 comparisons
See how RAL 790-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
