Aethermatic Blue vs Cobalt Teal

How close are they?

ΔE 16.9, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Cobalt Teal is a little lighter, more saturated, warmer than Aethermatic Blue. They are different kinds of paint: Citadel Aethermatic Blue is a one-coat contrast-style paint and Golden Cobalt Teal is an opaque base/layer paint, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Cobalt Teal instead of Aethermatic Blue?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 17). Cobalt Teal is a little lighter, more saturated, warmer than Aethermatic Blue. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Aethermatic Blue instead of Cobalt Teal?

The same difference applies the other way round: Aethermatic Blue is a little darker, more muted, cooler.

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.