Olive Drab vs Ethereal Green

How close are they?

ΔE 14.5, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Ethereal Green is a little darker, much more saturated, cooler than Olive Drab.

Can I use Ethereal Green instead of Olive Drab?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Ethereal Green is a little darker, much more saturated, cooler than Olive Drab.

Can I use Olive Drab instead of Ethereal Green?

The same difference applies the other way round: Olive Drab is a little lighter, much more muted, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.