MUTED GREEN · CURATED PAINT RECIPE
How to mix olive green
A yellow-led natural green for foliage, military subjects, landscapes, and aged surfaces.
STARTING MIX
4 : 1 : 1
Use one consistent unit for every part. For the smallest fractions, scale the entire recipe up instead of estimating a partial drop.
PIGMENT LOGIC
Why this mixture works
A dull yellow plus a warm blue produces green without excessive saturation. Umber deepens it and supplies the brown component characteristic of olive.
The displayed #767A3D swatch is an sRGB target, not a promise that every brand will dry to the same color. Pigment identity, tint strength, opacity, medium, surface, and lighting remain part of the result.
BASIC-PALETTE ROUTE
Alternative recipe
Use 3 parts yellow, 1 part blue, and a touch of red. A warm yellow gives a more natural olive than a lemon yellow.
Apply the mixture on the same ground and at the same thickness planned for the final work. Label the wet ratio, wait for a complete dry-down, and compare in neutral light before adjusting.
CORRECTION MAP
How to adjust the result
Add ochre for sunlit olive, blue for shadow, or white and ochre for a faded khaki. Use red only as a very small neutralizer.
Correct value first, then hue, then chroma. This order prevents a lightness error from turning into an unnecessarily complicated recipe.
WATCH FOR
Common mistakes
- Starting with equal yellow and blue
- Adding black until the green looks military
- Using a cool lemon yellow and then fighting the resulting brightness