Dirty Yellow vs Desert Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 10.8, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Desert Yellow is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Dirty Yellow.

Can I use Desert Yellow instead of Dirty Yellow?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Desert Yellow is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Dirty Yellow.

Can I use Dirty Yellow instead of Desert Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dirty Yellow is a little lighter, 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.