Royal Blue vs Cyan Blue

How close are they?

ΔE 13.5, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Cyan Blue is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Royal Blue.

Can I use Cyan Blue instead of Royal Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 13). Cyan Blue is a little lighter, more muted, cooler than Royal Blue.

Can I use Royal Blue instead of Cyan Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Royal Blue is a little darker, more saturated, 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.