In the pot, Clear reads as a neutral white, very light and vivid. Shade down into Matt Varnish, the nearest darker paint in the Humbrol line. Clear is a bit distinctive: no other brand carries a strong same-finish match, though Citadel Apothecary White comes nearest at 87 percent. Any substitute is a mixing base rather than a drop-in, so tune it on the model.
Clear equivalents and near misses
Fair warning: nothing matches Humbrol Clear cleanly. The options below are the least bad, and every one of them drifts.
Closest Citadel equivalent: Citadel Apothecary White, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.5).
Best The Army Painter option: The Army Painter Holy White, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.5).
From Tamiya: Tamiya Clear Coat Flat, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.7).
Vallejo's closest color: Vallejo Cold White, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.4), but it is an opaque acrylic so treat it as a color reference, not a swap.
The drift here is spread thinly across hue, lightness and saturation rather than leaning one way, so the mismatch reads as a general haze at delta E 2.5 rather than an obvious shift.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Citadel
The Army Painter
Tamiya
Vallejo
Monument Pro Acryl
Two Thin Coats
Scale75
AK Interactive
Green Stuff World
Revell
P3 Paints
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 0 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Humbrol Clear?
The closest same-finish match is Citadel Apothecary White at 87% color similarity.
What is Clear used for?
Clear is a wash that flows into recesses and pools in shadow. Common uses: deepen recesses and panel lines.
What do I highlight and shade Clear with?
Shade Clear with Matt Varnish in the same Humbrol range. For highlights, mix in a lighter tone or move to a brighter paint in the lane.