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I'm currently finishing up my Tyranid army, and I ran into a problem. I started to ran out of the purple I use to paint their carapace, which is Liche Purple. So, I checked the citadel paint conversion chart, and went and bought some Xereus purple. The problem is, it's not the same color. I got a bit off put at the color at first, so I put some of both on a peice of sprue, and the difference is noticable. Is this just me noticing this? I might add some Chaos/Abbadon black to the Xereus to make it darker, but I have a tournament coming up in a month that requires fully painted armies, so I'd really appreciate any help that can be offered, and fast. Am I just silly, and it's just this particular bottle, or maybe my Liche is too old and dark? Either way I'm scraping the bottom of the Liche purple, and I'll have to start using something else soon...

Help!

It's not just you, they're pretty different colors. My impression, though, was that Liche Purple was a lot more vibrant than Xereus. I'm not sure if it's lighter or darker, but Xereus purple just doesn't "pop" as much as Liche Purple does. I don't have any advice (I just wound up scraping the bottom of my Liche Purple), but I hope you find an answer. I've still got half my Slaanesh models unpainted and need to find a better replacement myself. Xereus just doesn't cut it.

Ok, thanks. I still have 2 Tervigons and accompanying gants to paint though, not enough Liche left for that... I'll see if my local stores have any left from before the switch...

Try Vallejos "Hexed Lichen" or Coat D'arms "Poison Purple" if you want an exact match for Liche purple.

and for futher reference.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart

Now, don't shoot me down right off the bat. It works, and it could save you from this issue. It's crazy, I know. It's outside the box, I know. But.... getting out of your comfort zone is how you get better, right?

Take a swatch of the color to Walmart, Ace, Home Depot, etc. and have them color match it in interior latex paint. Get the smallest option (1quart i think, small can). Yes, it's thick, but just the same as acrylics it can be thinned, and when thinned properly you won't be able to tell the difference color match vs the original.

I did this with Reaper Master Series "Twilight Blue." I wasn't about to pay almost $4 /dropper to basecoat my entire spacewolves army. Rather, it cost me $8 for enough paint to basecoat any spacewolf miniature I might ever own. Ever.

While you're at the store, grab something called "Paint Ease" by Wagner. It's a water based paint conditioner/thinner. Works on acrylics and latex based paints. Use this to thin the paint rather than water, so that it doesn't get diluted. Comes in a big bottle, will last you most of the duration of the hobby.

If you're happy with the results, excellent. Use it for other colors. If you're not, you're only out, at most, $20 (depending on the paint brand).

My only other idea to try to help would be to color match it by mixing acrylics old-school (Red/blue/yellow/Popsicle stick in a cup).

Good luck, and I sincerely hope you make it to your tourney with a well painted army, and do well.

I always had issues with Liche Purple as a color. One pot would be wildly different from another.

The pots I still have which I can paint from look like they would match Xereus Purple, no problems.
Have you considered Genestealer Purple though, if you're insistent on staying within the GW paints?