Whirlwind vs RAL 860-3
Whirlwind (PPG) and RAL 860-3 (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 53 vs 54 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 0.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Whirlwind vs RAL 860-3 in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Whirlwind and RAL 860-3 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.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
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.
Color Details
Whirlwind vs RAL 860-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Whirlwind on one side and RAL 860-3 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 Whirlwind comparisons
See how Whirlwind stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Whirlwind encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 53 vs 30, Whirlwind is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 53) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 53), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Whirlwind reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (53 vs 43) makes Whirlwind the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 55 and 53, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Whirlwind reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 53, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 53), opening up a space where Whirlwind encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 53), opening up a space where Whirlwind encloses it.
Whirlwind reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Whirlwind reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 53), opening up a space where Whirlwind encloses it.
Whirlwind reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Whirlwind reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 53 vs 31, Whirlwind is decisively the brighter choice.