RAL 170-4 vs RAL 180-3
RAL 170-4 and RAL 180-3 come from the same RAL Effect collection. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 69 vs 68 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 2.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 170-4 vs RAL 180-3 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. RAL 170-4 and RAL 180-3 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.
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
RAL 170-4 vs RAL 180-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 170-4 on one side and RAL 180-3 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 RAL 170-4 comparisons
See how RAL 170-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 69, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 170-4 reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 170-4 reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 170-4 reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 12-point LRV gap (69 vs 58) makes RAL 170-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 69 vs 27, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 170-4 reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 55, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 44, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 69), opening up a space where RAL 170-4 encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (69 vs 66) makes RAL 170-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
A 5-point LRV gap (74 vs 69) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 69 vs 12, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 8, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 69 vs 68), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 69 vs 12, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 45, RAL 170-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 170-4 reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.