Ruby red vs Carmine
Where Ruby red belongs to RAL Classic's range, Carmine is a Sherwin-Williams color. Both sit in the pink-red family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Ruby red (LRV 9) reflects noticeably more light than Carmine (LRV 5), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 3.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ruby red vs Carmine in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Ruby red and Carmine 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.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Ruby red reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Ruby red vs Carmine Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ruby red on one side and Carmine 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 Ruby red comparisons
See how Ruby red stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 9), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 9 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 9), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where Ruby red encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.