Use Compare Colors in Color Identifier to capture and save a reference, then reopen it when you find another sample. Scan the new sample to view the two recorded colors together with a similarity result and lighting guidance. This is a compare-later workflow: the objects do not need to be in the same place. Camera and lighting differences make the result an estimate, rather than proof of an exact physical match. Check for the feature in your installed iPhone version.
Save a reference, then compare another sample
Capture the original color
Open Compare Colors from Home and choose Save a reference. Aim the camera at a broad, evenly lit part of the surface. Follow the capture guidance and avoid glare, shadows and textured edges.
Save the color and its code reference
Review the captured color, name it and save it. Open its details for HEX, RGB and CMYK values. A name such as Living room wall makes the reference easier to find when you later compare another sample.
Scan a second sample later
When you find a potential sample elsewhere, open the saved reference and choose Scan a paint sample. Aim at the new surface, hold still and capture when ready. Keep the lighting as even and comparable as practical.
Review the colors and lighting together
Read the similarity result alongside the lighting guidance. The adjacent swatches show the recorded reference and new sample. Finalized comparisons save locally to History; return to the saved reference to compare another sample.
Save a color reference with HEX, RGB and CMYK
The saved iPhone reference keeps the recorded shade and its name together. Open reference details to view HEX, RGB and CMYK values; the inspected interface also shows XYZ and FS 595 references. The code rows belong to reference details, while the comparison result keeps the focus on the two colors and their closeness.
Use this reference for a wall, fabric, furniture or another selected surface you want to revisit. A recorded code is a useful description of the capture, not proof of a material’s original formula. This workflow does not imply that every RGB selector or export option from the separate converter appears in reference details.
See how close two recorded colors are
The result places the reference and sample next to each other with a shared edge, so you can compare the recorded shades directly. A short verdict explains their closeness: Very close, Close, Noticeably different or Different, depending on the result and app version. You do not need to interpret numerical color codes to understand the main result.
Use it to judge a candidate against your saved reference, whether you are exploring paint, fabric or another color. Similarity and capture quality are different: a close-looking pair can still carry a lighting limitation. The result is an estimate for the two captures, not a guaranteed physical match or a percentage accuracy score.
Remember a wall color before visiting the shop
Capture the wall while you are at home, name the reference and keep it on that device. Later, open that reference beside a candidate sample in a shop. This makes the original recorded shade available without relying only on visual memory.
Choose a clean area of paint. A bright reflection, dark corner or surface texture can skew the recorded color. Capture guidance helps you choose a better area, but a phone reading does not establish a paint manufacturer or formula.
Compare a sample in another location
The second capture can happen later, in a different room or shop. Select the saved reference first so the result compares the intended pair. You do not need both objects in one photograph.
The result describes similarity between two recorded colors. A close result can help narrow your choices; check a physical sample in the intended room before buying paint for a touch-up or a finished project. Finish, texture and lighting can change how materials look together.
Why lighting matters when you compare colors
Different light can make the same surface appear different to the camera. Exposure, white balance, reflections and the device also affect a capture. Cross-session comparisons remain estimates because the two measurements do not share identical conditions.
Read the quality guidance separately from the similarity verdict. The design example shows a Close match together with Lighting limited: similarity alone does not establish a reliable measurement. When possible, repeat the capture under more even light.
Return to saved comparisons in History
The iPhone workflow saves finalized comparisons locally to History. Use its Colors and Comparisons filters to find the type of reference you need; All brings both into one feed.
Local history keeps the reference available on that device. This guide does not promise cloud backup or synchronization. When you want to capture another candidate, reopen the reference rather than starting a separate same-frame comparison.
App comparison and free browser tools
This guide follows the iPhone Compare Colors workflow. The website illustrates its result with the supplied app design; the illustration is not a comparison performed by the browser. Check feature availability and controls in your installed version.
The free browser tools let you inspect image pixels, convert codes and plan palettes. They do not connect to the camera or perform this saved-reference comparison. The app is free to download with in-app purchases; download availability does not make every feature free.
Keep a reference for the next sample
- Capture and name a color reference in Compare Colors.
- Save it on your device; open its details for HEX, RGB and CMYK values.
- Open the reference later and scan another sample.
- Review adjacent swatches, the closeness verdict and lighting guidance; find finalized comparisons in History.
Save here. Compare there.
Explore the iPhone app and check Compare Colors availability in your version.
The browser tools are free. Mobile features, limits and purchases depend on the current app and platform.
Questions about compare colors from different places
Which color codes can I view for a saved reference?
The inspected iPhone reference details show HEX, RGB, CMYK, XYZ and FS 595 references. The main comparison result emphasizes adjacent swatches and a plain-language closeness verdict rather than repeating the code rows.
How can I see whether two colors are close?
Capture a reference, then compare a later sample. Read the adjacent swatches and the similarity verdict together with lighting guidance. It describes the recorded captures, not a guaranteed physical match.
Can I compare two colors in different places?
Yes, the Compare Colors workflow saves the first reference and compares a later capture with it. Lighting differences mean the result is an estimate, rather than proof that the physical materials match.
Do both samples need to be in the same photo?
No. Save the original reference first, then scan the second sample later. The supported journey uses two separate captures.
Can a phone guarantee an exact paint match?
No. Camera processing, lighting and surface finish affect the captured values. Use the result to narrow choices, then check a physical sample in its intended setting.
Where are comparison results saved?
The iPhone workflow saves finalized results locally to History. Open the Comparisons filter to find them. This guide does not promise cross-device synchronization.