FAQ
Everything you need to know about using Paint Picker
What is Paint Picker?
Paint Picker is a free online tool for miniature painters. It helps you find matching paint colors across different brands, so if you have a Citadel paint and want to find the closest Vallejo equivalent (or vice versa), Paint Picker does the maths for you.
Which paint brands are supported?
We currently support Citadel (Games Workshop), Vallejo, Army Painter, and Colourforge. This includes sub-ranges like Citadel Base, Layer, Shade, Contrast, Vallejo Model Color, Game Color, Model Air, and more. We're always looking to expand, so if your favourite brand is missing, let us know.
How accurate are the color matches?
Paint Picker uses an Euclidean distance algorithm in RGB color space to calculate how similar two colors are. Results are labelled as "Exact Match", "Very Close", "Close", or "Similar" depending on the distance. However, real paint can look different on screen versus in person due to factors like monitor calibration, paint finish (matte vs gloss), opacity, and the surface you're painting on. We recommend using Paint Picker as a starting point and testing paints in person when precision matters.
How do I search by hex code?
On the Search page, select the "Hex Code" tab. You can either type a hex code directly (e.g. #8B4513) or use the color picker to choose a color visually. Adjust the match tolerance to control how broad or narrow your results are. A lower tolerance returns only very close matches, while a higher tolerance shows more results.
Can I pick a color from an image?
Yes! Use the "Upload Image" tab to upload a photo from your device, or the "Image URL" tab to load an image from a web address. Once loaded, hover over the image to preview colors, then click to select the color you want to match. All image processing happens entirely in your browser. No images are sent to our servers.
What does the match tolerance do?
The tolerance controls how different a paint color can be from your search color and still appear in the results. A tolerance of 0 would only show exact matches, while higher values will include paints that are progressively further from your target color. The default setting works well for most searches.
Is Paint Picker free?
Yes, Paint Picker is completely free to use. We fund the site through ads, affiliate links, and voluntary donations via Buy Me a Coffee. If you find the tool useful, consider supporting us.
Do you upload or store my images?
No. When you use the image color picker, all processing happens in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images never leave your device and are not stored on our servers.
A paint color looks wrong. How do I report it?
We compile our paint data from publicly available sources and do our best to keep it accurate. If you spot a paint with an incorrect hex value, please contact us with the paint name, brand, and the correct hex code if you know it.
Can I request a new paint brand?
Absolutely! We'd love to cover more brands. Send us a message via the Contact page with the brand name and, if possible, a link to their color range. Adding a new brand depends on the availability of reliable color data.
Is Paint Picker affiliated with any paint brand?
No. Paint Picker is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Citadel, Games Workshop, Vallejo, Army Painter, Colourforge, or any other paint manufacturer. All brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.