Color-wise this is a moderate, very dark brown leaning warm. For highlights, the next step up in the The Army Painter range is Strong Tone. This color is somewhat distinctive: 1 brand offers a strong same-finish match, Citadel Seraphim Sepia closest at 82 percent. Any substitute is a mixing base rather than a drop-in, so tune it on the model.
Dark Tone equivalents and near misses
Fair warning: nothing matches The Army Painter Dark Tone cleanly. The options below are the least bad, and every one of them drifts.
Closest Citadel equivalent: Citadel Seraphim Sepia, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.7).
Nearest in the Vallejo catalog: Vallejo Sepia, close enough that batch variation matters more (delta E 1.9), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
Best Humbrol option: Humbrol Chocolate, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.5), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
From AK Interactive: AK Interactive Dark Brown, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.9), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
Worth knowing before you swap: Citadel Seraphim Sepia runs slightly darker, which shows most where the paint thins over raised detail.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Citadel
Vallejo
Humbrol
AK Interactive
Green Stuff World
Monument Pro Acryl
P3 Paints
Revell
Two Thin Coats
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 1 other brand with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to The Army Painter Dark Tone?
The closest same-finish match is Citadel Seraphim Sepia at 82% color similarity.
What is Dark Tone used for?
Dark Tone is a wash that flows into recesses and pools in shadow. Common uses: leather and wood shading; deepen recesses and panel lines.
What do I highlight and shade Dark Tone with?
The next step up for highlighting Dark Tone is Strong Tone in the The Army Painter range. Nothing sits directly below it in the same lane, so reach for a wash to shade.