What is the difference between Primary Yellow and Lemon Yellow?

ΔE 17 (loose). Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted, cooler. Swatch colours are estimates.

Primary Yellow vs Lemon Yellow

Primary Yellow

Brand: Scale75
Range: Scalecolor Artist
Code: Artist
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #ffd801 (estimate)

Lemon Yellow

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.952
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #d8d31a (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 16.5, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted, cooler than Primary Yellow.

Can I use Lemon Yellow instead of Primary Yellow?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 17). Lemon Yellow is a little darker, more muted, cooler than Primary Yellow.

Can I use Primary Yellow instead of Lemon Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Primary Yellow is a little lighter, 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 Primary Yellow on the colour wheel See Lemon Yellow on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Primary Yellow

Primary Yellow vs Moon Yellow (72.005)Game Color · ΔE 7, close · closer than Lemon Yellow
Primary Yellow vs Deep Yellow (70.915)Model Color · ΔE 12, fair · closer than Lemon Yellow
Primary Yellow vs Light Yellow (70.949)Model Color · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Lemon Yellow

Other Scale75 paints close to Lemon Yellow

Lemon Yellow vs Marduk Yellow (SFG08)Fantasy & Games · ΔE 13, fair · closer than Primary Yellow
Lemon Yellow vs Lemon Yellow (Artist)Scalecolor Artist · ΔE 15, loose · closer than Primary Yellow
Lemon Yellow vs Lime Green (Artist)Scalecolor Artist · ΔE 18, loose

All matches: Primary Yellow equivalents · Lemon Yellow equivalents