What is the difference between Sand Yellow and Desert Yellow?

ΔE 10 (close). Desert Yellow is a little darker. Swatch colours are estimates.

Sand Yellow vs Desert Yellow

Sand Yellow

Brand: AK Interactive
Range: 3rd Gen Standard
Code: AK11035
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #e4b945 (estimate)

Desert Yellow

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Game Color
Code: 72.063
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #c7a421 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 9.7, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Desert Yellow is a little darker than Sand Yellow.

Can I use Desert Yellow instead of Sand Yellow?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 10). Desert Yellow is a little darker than Sand Yellow.

Can I use Sand Yellow instead of Desert Yellow?

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

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.

See Sand Yellow on the colour wheel See Desert Yellow on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Sand Yellow

Sand Yellow vs Sand Yellow (70.916)Model Color · ΔE 0, very close · closer than Desert Yellow
Sand Yellow vs Buff (70.976)Model Color · ΔE 9, close · closer than Desert Yellow
Sand Yellow vs Plague Brown (72.039)Game Color · ΔE 10, close · closer than Desert Yellow

Other AK Interactive paints close to Desert Yellow

Desert Yellow vs Plague Yellow (AK17013)AK Quick Gen · ΔE 7, close · closer than Sand Yellow
Desert Yellow vs Dirty Yellow (AK17007)AK Quick Gen · ΔE 11, fair
Desert Yellow vs Bile Yellow (AK17008)AK Quick Gen · ΔE 13, fair

All matches: Sand Yellow equivalents · Desert Yellow equivalents