Buff vs German Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 14.8, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. German Yellow is more saturated, cooler than Buff.

Can I use German Yellow instead of Buff?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 15). German Yellow is more saturated, cooler than Buff.

Can I use Buff instead of German Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Buff is 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.