What is the difference between Warm Yellow and Nuclear Yellow?

ΔE 33 (loose). Nuclear Yellow is noticeably darker, more muted, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

Warm Yellow vs Nuclear Yellow

Warm Yellow

Brand: Pro Acryl
Range: 1-Step
Code: 504
Type: a one-coat contrast-style paint
Swatch: #f0b818 (estimate)

Nuclear Yellow

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Xpress Color
Code: 72.404
Type: a one-coat contrast-style paint
Swatch: #d6791f (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 33.5, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Nuclear Yellow is noticeably darker, more muted, warmer than Warm Yellow.

Can I use Nuclear Yellow instead of Warm Yellow?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 33). Nuclear Yellow is noticeably darker, more muted, warmer than Warm Yellow.

Can I use Warm Yellow instead of Nuclear Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Warm Yellow is noticeably lighter, more saturated, 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 Warm Yellow on the colour wheel See Nuclear Yellow on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Warm Yellow

Warm Yellow vs Imperial Yellow (72.403)Xpress Color · ΔE 27, loose · closer than Nuclear Yellow
Warm Yellow vs Dreadnought Yellow (72.477)Xpress Color · ΔE 32, loose · closer than Nuclear Yellow
Warm Yellow vs Khaki Drill (72.451)Xpress Color · ΔE 49, loose

Other Pro Acryl paints close to Nuclear Yellow

Nuclear Yellow vs Orange (511)1-Step · ΔE 20, loose · closer than Warm Yellow
Nuclear Yellow vs Rust (512)1-Step · ΔE 26, loose · closer than Warm Yellow
Nuclear Yellow vs Bronze Yellow (521)1-Step · ΔE 31, loose · closer than Warm Yellow

All matches: Warm Yellow equivalents · Nuclear Yellow equivalents