Obsidian Green vs Black Emerald
Obsidian Green (Little Greene) and Black Emerald (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Obsidian Green belongs to the green family and Black Emerald to the blue-green family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 1 vs 1 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Obsidian Green leans green, Black Emerald reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.0 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Obsidian Green vs Black Emerald in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Obsidian Green and Black Emerald are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Obsidian Green vs Black Emerald Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Obsidian Green on one side and Black Emerald on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Obsidian Green comparisons
See how Obsidian Green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 1, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (6 vs 1) makes Iron Ore the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 1, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 1, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 1, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
Naval reads slightly lighter (LRV 4 vs 1), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 1, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 13 vs 1, Bancha is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 1, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 1, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 1, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 1, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (12 vs 1) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 7-point LRV gap (8 vs 1) makes Duck Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 1, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (12 vs 1) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 1, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 1), opening up a space where Obsidian Green encloses it.