Barren Yellow vs Dark Sun Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 12.3, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Dark Sun Yellow is noticeably lighter, more muted than Barren Yellow.

Can I use Dark Sun Yellow instead of Barren Yellow?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Dark Sun Yellow is noticeably lighter, more muted than Barren Yellow.

Can I use Barren Yellow instead of Dark Sun Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Barren Yellow is noticeably darker, more saturated.

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.