Scan paint labels
Point the camera at a paint label, review the likely match, then add it to My Paints without manual searching.
Hobby Rack
By Hobby Codex
Keep painting with the paints you already have.
Hobby Rack helps miniature painters track the paints they own, scan paint labels, find practical alternatives when a tutorial uses paints they do not have, and save those choices for future projects.
- No account required
- Camera scanner for faster adding
- Source-backed match suggestions
- 1,750+ paints across Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, Colour Forge, Two Thin Coats, TTCombat
Core tools
Less chart-hopping. More painting.
Hobby Rack keeps the practical parts of paint planning close at hand without pretending every colour has a perfect equivalent.
Find useful alternatives
Search for practical alternatives from your own collection, prioritising published source charts and strict swatch data where available.
Save project paint plans
Keep tutorial paints, chosen alternatives, and project shopping lists together so you can pick up where you left off.
Sync with Plus
Keep My Paints, wish lists, and projects backed up and available across your devices with iCloud.
Real hobby workflows
For the paint problems that slow a project down.
Hobby Rack is built around the little moments that happen at the desk, on the sofa with a tutorial open, or in a shop aisle trying to remember what you already own.
The tutorial uses a paint you do not own
Search the paint from the video or article, then check useful alternatives from your rack before adding another pot to the wish list.
You solved the alternative once already
Save tutorial paints and your alternatives to a project plan so the same decision is ready next time you return to that army, display piece, or terrain set.
You are adding paints after a shopping trip
Use the camera scanner to recognise paint labels and add likely catalogue matches to My Paints without retyping everything.
Why I built it
I wanted to stop feeling stuck when a tutorial used paints I did not own.
I built Hobby Rack because I was tired of pausing a project to dig through paint maker websites and conversion charts, trying to work out what I could use instead of the exact colours in a YouTube tutorial.
For a while, that made me feel locked into one paint brand. It was easier than figuring out alternatives across different ranges, even when another maker had paints I preferred or colours with better coverage.
I tried looking for a better way to manage a mixed paint collection, but the tools I found either felt overwhelming or did not fit the way I actually paint. So I built the app I wanted on my own desk: a quick way to see what I already have, find practical alternatives, and keep painting instead of waiting until I could buy the exact pot from the tutorial.
Screenshots
Made for the way tutorials actually work.
Hobby Rack Plus
Save the paint decisions you keep making twice.
Plus is for painters who follow tutorials, juggle multiple brands, and want project-specific alternatives, unlimited plans, and iCloud backup ready when they sit back down at the desk.
Included with Plus
- Paint alternatives saved by project
- Unlimited project paint plans
- iCloud sync and backup
- Support ongoing Hobby Codex development
Matching philosophy
Useful, honest guidance.
Paint matching is practical guidance, not a guarantee of exact colour equivalence. Hobby Rack favours published conversion sources and only uses strict dry-swatch colour matching where trusted data exists.
Now on iPhone and iPad
Download Hobby Rack from the App Store.
Start building your collection, wish list, and project paint plans today.
FAQ
A few honest answers.
Are the paint matches exact?
No. They are practical alternatives, prioritising published conversion charts and trusted swatch data where available.
Can I hide Air paints?
Yes. If you do not use an airbrush, Hobby Rack can hide Air paints so your catalogue and matches stay relevant.
What is Hobby Rack Plus for?
Plus unlocks unlimited project paint plans, saved paint alternatives, project shopping lists, and iCloud sync so repeated tutorials are easier to manage.
Can I use it while following tutorials?
Yes. You can save tutorial paint lists, choose alternatives from your own rack, and keep project shopping lists for paints you still need.