Match Gentian
Sherwin-Williams Gentian is a deep, low-reflectance shade, cool in character with an LRV of 18. The matches below are the closest equivalents available across every brand on Pontata, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score. A ΔE under 3 is subtle; under 10 is noticeable but harmonious; above 25 means genuinely different colors.
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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 19 and 18, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 2.6 you'd need them side by side to tell them apart.


A 5-point LRV gap (23 vs 18) makes Venture Violet the marginally brighter of the two. The ΔE 5.9 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.


Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 19 vs 18), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 6.1 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.


Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 15), so neither reads brighter in a room. The ΔE 7.4 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.



With LRVs of 19 and 18, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 9.2 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.



Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 15), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 11.1 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.



Cook's Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 25 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 16.3 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.



Gentian reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 22.3 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.


With LRVs of 19 and 18, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 24.4 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.



Gentian reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 14), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 24.5 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.








