RAL 860-3 vs Niebla Azul
Where RAL 860-3 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Niebla Azul is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 860-3 reads as grey, while Niebla Azul reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (54 vs 53), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. The ΔE 4.4 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 860-3 vs Niebla Azul in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. RAL 860-3 and Niebla Azul 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Color Details
RAL 860-3 vs Niebla Azul Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 860-3 on one side and Niebla Azul 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 860-3 comparisons
See how RAL 860-3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 54), opening up a space where RAL 860-3 encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 54 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 54 vs 30, RAL 860-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 54) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 54), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 860-3 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (54 vs 43) makes RAL 860-3 the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 55 and 54, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 860-3 reads slightly lighter (LRV 54 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 54, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 54), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 54), opening up a space where RAL 860-3 encloses it.
RAL 860-3 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 54), opening up a space where RAL 860-3 encloses it.
RAL 860-3 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
RAL 860-3 reads slightly lighter (LRV 54 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 54 vs 31, RAL 860-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 54 vs 7, RAL 860-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 54 vs 24, RAL 860-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (57 vs 54) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.