Comparing Acrylic Marker Colors Between Brands

An acrylic marker out of stock, a palette to complete without buying a whole new pack, a shade to find from another brand: the question of color equivalence constantly arises for those who practice mystery coloring or acrylic art.

To answer this question precisely, we designed our color comparator. Rather than giving you an approximate answer, we wanted to share the method behind each proposed equivalence.

Why the eye alone is not enough

The natural reflex is to place two markers side-by-side and compare them visually. But human perception of colors is inherently unstable:

• Ambient light changes the rendering. The same shade does not appear identical under natural light and artificial light.
• Screens are not calibrated in the same way. A color code displayed on a phone does not have the same rendering as on a computer, nor as the ink once dry on paper.
• The brain automatically adjusts perception according to surrounding colors, which skews any judgment by the naked eye.

To guarantee reliable equivalence, it was therefore necessary to rely on an objective measurement rather than a visual impression.

Our method, explained simply

Each color is translated into a kind of digital signature, composed of three values: its lightness, its position between green and red, and its position between blue and yellow. This system is called the Lab color space. Its advantage: it was designed to reflect how the human eye actually perceives colors, regardless of screen display.

Once this signature is established for two markers, we calculate the distance between them. This distance has a name: the Delta-E. The lower it is, the closer the two colors are visually once applied to paper.

It is this calculation that produces the percentage displayed on our comparator — 98%, for example: the higher this percentage, the stronger the real resemblance between the two shades.

An essential refinement: the manufacturer's logic

By building this tool on over 1,700 colors and seven brands, we identified a limitation of mathematical calculation alone: two colors can be numerically close without belonging to the same perceptual family. A deep purple can, for example, be mathematically close to a burgundy, even though the eye clearly distinguishes them.

To correct this bias, we prioritize the reference prefixes used by manufacturers — codes that indicate the intended color family (green, blue, purple...). The Delta-E calculation then refines the match within that family. It is this combination of the two approaches that distinguishes a reliable equivalence from a simple estimate.

What this changes concretely

• Finish a mystery coloring without visible breaks in the gradient, even when changing brands
• Complete a palette without buying a whole new pack for a single missing shade
• Confidently choose a replacement color when your usual reference is no longer available

Discover the comparator

The Lovely Colors shade comparator applies this method to over 1,700 colors, from Guangna, Languo, Infiart, Nicety, Qimiart and other brands. Simply enter a reference to find its closest equivalences, ranked by percentage of match.

Is a specific shade missing from the database? Write to us — we regularly update it.

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FAQ

How do I know if two acrylic markers from different brands are really the same color? Visual comparison is unreliable, as light and screens distort perception. Our color comparator objectively measures this resemblance and expresses it as a percentage.

Why can two colors that look identical on screen differ once printed? Because screens display colors according to their own calibration, while dried ink on paper produces a different rendering. This is why our method relies on a measurement independent of digital display.

How do I find the equivalent of an acrylic marker in another brand? Enter the reference of your marker into the Lovely Colors shade comparator: the tool automatically displays the closest colors among other available brands.