Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Aperture |
| SKU | C2-981 |
| Hex | #3B3B3B |
| RGB | 59, 59, 59 |
| HSL | 0°, 0%, 23% |
| LRV | 4 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About C2 Paint Aperture
At LRV 4, Aperture is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Aperture earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all black from that brand.
Dunn-Edwards
Behr
Kompozit
PPG / Glidden
Diamond Vogel
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Farrow & Ball
Sherwin-Williams
Dutch Boy
Clare
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe nearest shades to Aperture within C2 Paint's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #3B3B3B in HSL space. Pair Aperture with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
C2 Paint Aperture Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Aperture from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint C2 Paint C2-981 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Kompozit Equivalent of Aperture
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Aperture is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Aperture
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Aperture is Black (DEA002). At ΔE 0.7 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Black and you'll get the same color. See the full Black swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Aperture
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Aperture is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Aperture
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Aperture is Grantsburg Gray (H101). At ΔE 0.89 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Grantsburg Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Grantsburg Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Aperture
Behr's nearest match is Limousine Leather (MQ5-05), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.08). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Aperture without repainting risk. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Aperture
Valspar's nearest match is Black Heron (V120-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.28). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4.5 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Aperture without repainting risk. See the full Black Heron swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Aperture
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Pitch Black (NO. 256), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.4). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Aperture without repainting risk. See the full Pitch Black swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Aperture
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Black Iron (2120-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.59). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Aperture without repainting risk. See the full Black Iron swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Aperture
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Greenblack (SW 6994), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.95). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Aperture without repainting risk. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Aperture
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Aperture is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) — very close at ΔE 3.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ebony Sky swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Aperture
Clare has no exact twin of Aperture. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Aperture
Backdrop has no exact twin of Aperture. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Aperture
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Aperture — the nearest deck color, Moments (JG-150), is clearly different (ΔE 5.55). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-981 instead. See the full Moments swatch →