In the pot, Carbon Black reads as a neutral black, very dark and muted. No shortage of substitutes here, Rubber Black from AK Interactive matches at 98 percent and 7 brands carry a strong same-finish near-match. It builds a smooth gradient with Dark Warm Grey underneath and Payne's Grey on the highlights, all in the Monument Pro Acryl line. Bottom line: run out mid-project and another brand will get you within a shade.
Carbon Black equivalents across other brands
The short answer: yes, Carbon Black has a true equivalent. If the pot runs dry mid project, here is the closest color each brand offers.
Closest AK Interactive equivalent: AK Interactive Rubber Black, indistinguishable once dry (delta E 0.3).
- Best Tamiya option: Tamiya Semi Gloss Black, the same color for practical purposes (delta E 0.9).
- From The Army Painter: The Army Painter Night Sky, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.7).
- Vallejo's closest color: Vallejo German Grey, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.1).
- Nearest in the Scale75 catalog: Scale75 Abyssal Blue, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.3).
- Best Revell option: Revell Tar Black (RAL 9021), close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.4).
We checked the Lab numbers for a hidden catch and there is none: lightness and temperature both line up, so this swap is as safe as they come.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
AK Interactive
Tamiya
The Army Painter
Vallejo
Scale75
Revell
Humbrol
Citadel
P3 Paints
Green Stuff World
Two Thin Coats
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 7 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Monument Pro Acryl Carbon Black?
The closest same-finish match is AK Interactive Rubber Black at 98% color similarity.
Is there a The Army Painter equivalent of Carbon Black?
Yes. The closest The Army Painter option is Night Sky at 87%, a same-finish match.
What color is Carbon Black?
Carbon Black is a very dark muted black with a neutral cast (hex #252525).
What do I highlight and shade Carbon Black with?
Highlight Carbon Black toward Payne's Grey and shade it down into Dark Warm Grey, both Monument Pro Acryl paints in the same finish family.