Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue vs Lemon Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 12.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted than Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue.

Can I use Lemon Yellow instead of Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted than Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue.

Can I use Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue instead of Lemon Yellow?

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