RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke
Where RAL 490-2 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 490-2 reads as pink-red, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. RAL 490-2 (LRV 68) reflects noticeably more light than Artichoke (LRV 21), a difference of 46 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 38.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-2 and Artichoke in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 490-2 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Color Details
RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-2 on one side and Artichoke 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 490-2 comparisons
See how RAL 490-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 68), opening up a space where RAL 490-2 encloses it.
At LRV 68 vs 52, RAL 490-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 30, RAL 490-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (68 vs 60) makes RAL 490-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 490-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 68 vs 43, RAL 490-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 68, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 68 and 66, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Shoji White reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 68), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 68, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
RAL 490-2 reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 68 vs 31, RAL 490-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 7, RAL 490-2 is decisively the brighter choice.