In the pot, Crimson reads as a warm red, dark and vivid. Matching it is straightforward: Vallejo Carmine Red lands at 90 percent in the same finish, and 8 brands in all carry a close same-finish swap. For highlights, the next step up in the Humbrol range is Insignia Red. Treat it as an easy swap, just confirm the finish type matches before you commit.
Crimson equivalents, brand by brand
2 of the 11 brands with a mapped match get genuinely close to Humbrol Crimson, though none is a clone. Brand by brand, the nearest colors are:
- Closest Vallejo equivalent: Vallejo Carmine Red, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.1).
- Best P3 Paints option: P3 Paints Broken Brick, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.2).
- From Scale75: Scale75 Blood Red, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.6).
- Green Stuff World's closest color: Green Stuff World Cutthroat Red, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.8).
- Nearest in the The Army Painter catalog: The Army Painter Dragon Red, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 2.8).
- Best Monument Pro Acryl option: Monument Pro Acryl Bold Pyrrole Red, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.5).
The honest caveat: Vallejo Carmine Red dries slightly more muted than Crimson, so expect recess shading and edge highlights to shift with it.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Vallejo
P3 Paints
Scale75
Green Stuff World
The Army Painter
Monument Pro Acryl
Two Thin Coats
AK Interactive
Revell
Citadel
Tamiya
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Found in 8 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Humbrol Crimson?
The closest same-finish match is Vallejo Carmine Red at 90% color similarity.
What color is Crimson?
Crimson is a dark vivid red with a warm undertone (hex #9B111E).
What do I highlight and shade Crimson with?
The next step up for highlighting Crimson is Insignia Red in the Humbrol range. Nothing sits directly below it in the same lane, so reach for a wash to shade.