Scarlet Red vs Dragon Red

How close are they?

ΔE 12.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Dragon Red is a little darker, more saturated than Scarlet Red.

Can I use Dragon Red instead of Scarlet Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Dragon Red is a little darker, more saturated than Scarlet Red.

Can I use Scarlet Red instead of Dragon Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Scarlet Red is a little lighter, more muted.

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.