What is the difference between Naples Yellow and Sand Yellow?

ΔE 18 (loose). Sand Yellow is much more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Naples Yellow vs Sand Yellow

Naples Yellow

Brand: Scale75
Range: Scalecolor Artist
Code: Artist
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #fbae25 (estimate)

Sand Yellow

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.916
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #e3b844 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 18.4, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Sand Yellow is much more muted, cooler than Naples Yellow.

Can I use Sand Yellow instead of Naples Yellow?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 18). Sand Yellow is much more muted, cooler than Naples Yellow.

Can I use Naples Yellow instead of Sand Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Naples Yellow is much more saturated, warmer.

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 Naples Yellow on the colour wheel See Sand Yellow on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Naples Yellow

Naples Yellow vs Medium Yellow (71.002)Model Air · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Sand Yellow
Naples Yellow vs Flat Yellow (70.953)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than Sand Yellow
Naples Yellow vs IJA Chrome Yellow (71.135)Model Air · ΔE 7, close · closer than Sand Yellow

Other Scale75 paints close to Sand Yellow

Sand Yellow vs Tenere Yellow (SC10)Scalecolor · ΔE 11, fair · closer than Naples Yellow
Sand Yellow vs Vanilla Yellow (Artist)Scalecolor Artist · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Naples Yellow
Sand Yellow vs Golden Flesh (Artist)Scalecolor Artist · ΔE 16, loose · closer than Naples Yellow

All matches: Naples Yellow equivalents · Sand Yellow equivalents