What is the difference between Yellow Ochre and Desert Yellow?

ΔE 9 (close). Desert Yellow is a little darker, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Yellow Ochre vs Desert Yellow

Yellow Ochre

Brand: Army Painter
Range: Warpaints Historical
Code: WP4133P
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #a98c4e (estimate)

Desert Yellow

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.977
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #a97d44 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 8.6, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. Desert Yellow is a little darker, warmer than Yellow Ochre.

Can I use Desert Yellow instead of Yellow Ochre?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 9). Desert Yellow is a little darker, warmer than Yellow Ochre.

Can I use Yellow Ochre instead of Desert Yellow?

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

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 Yellow Ochre on the colour wheel See Desert Yellow on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Yellow Ochre

Yellow Ochre vs Iraqi Sand (70.819)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Desert Yellow
Yellow Ochre vs Dark Sand (70.847)Model Color · ΔE 8, close · closer than Desert Yellow
Yellow Ochre vs Orange Ochre (70.824)Model Color · ΔE 8, close · closer than Desert Yellow

Other Army Painter paints close to Desert Yellow

Desert Yellow vs Mid DAK Sand (WP4145P)Warpaints Historical · ΔE 6, very close · closer than Yellow Ochre
Desert Yellow vs Telogreika Ochre (WP4129P)Warpaints Historical · ΔE 7, close · closer than Yellow Ochre
Desert Yellow vs Wasteland ClayWarpaints Fanatic · ΔE 9, close

All matches: Yellow Ochre equivalents · Desert Yellow equivalents