Match Steel blue
RAL Classic Steel blue is a deep, low-reflectance shade with an LRV of 5. The matches below are ranked by ΔE, a perceptual color-difference score.
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Closest matches across every brand
One match per brand, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score calculated from Lab color space values. Lower is closer. Click any card to compare side by side in simulated rooms.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 1.5 you'd need them side by side to tell them apart.
With LRVs of 6 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 5.6 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
With LRVs of 5 and 3, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 5.9 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 6.8 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 5 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 7.6 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 8.1 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Steel blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 2), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 9.3 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Deep Breath reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 5), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 9.5 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 5 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 9.6 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 12.7 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.
With LRVs of 6 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 14.7 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 15.8 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.
With LRVs of 8 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 16.7 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 5 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 17.5 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.