frequently asked questions

Arn't all personal colour systems the same?

Many people incorrectly believe that all personal colour systems are equal. We sincerely wish for your sake that this was true!  Unfortunately over the last 30 years, right up to the current time, many individuals and companies have incorrectly attempted to interpret and commercialize personal colour theory; resulting in inaccuracy, and questionable results.   

Did you know that the 'Image' industy is currently unregulated in Australia? This means that anyone can call themselves an 'Image Consultant' or 'Stylist' with little/no training and questionable qualifications! 

Unfortunately for you this means that there are many businesses offering unsubstanciated courses and products. We suggest that every body becomes an aware consumer, and ask questions before they buy.  We encourage you to explore the True Colour web site to find the answers to the questions which you feel are important.  If you have are unable to find the informatiuon you are searching for please feel free to contact True Colour direct -we will welcome your questions.

What is the difference between 4 Seasonal and Sci/ART® Twelve - Tone™ Analysis?

The Seasonal Color Theory made famous by companies such as Colour Me Beautiful, provided a great beginning to personal color classification. Analysts, however, soon discovered that four categories were not enough to properly identify the wide variety of human color tones they encountered.

Initially it was presumed that all skin tones could be classified as either warm or cool. Winter and Summer were considered cool categories, and Spring and Autumn were considered warm. In many cases, however, analysts found that warmth or coolness of hue was not definite, and found it difficult, if not impossible, to determine.

The reason for this difficulty is that all colors are not either warm or cool. In fact, most fall somewhere in between. This area between warm and cool is referred to as “neutral.” For example, a red color with a yellow content is considered a warm red. A red color with a blue content is considered a cool red. A true red, one that has neither a yellow nor a blue content, is considered a “neutral” red. A color’s hue, therefore, may be warm, cool, or neutral.

Over two-thirds of human skin tones fall into this neutral category. Unfortunately, over two-thirds of those who have been “seasonally” analyzed have not felt comfortable with their colors.

Understanding this, we are pleased to offer 12 Tone Personal Color Analysis, a seasonal analysis that has been refined and expanded to include twelve categories instead of four.

Within each seasonal category, two others have been established to allow for the many beautiful tones that fall into the neutral area between the seasons. These twelve color tones make color analysis three times more precise. They also beautifully encompass the full range of tones found in all races and nationalities.

The 12 tones of personal color are called Winter Dark, Winter True, Winter Bright, Spring Bright, Spring True, Spring Light, Summer Light, Summer True, Summer Soft, Autumn Soft, Autumn True, Autumn Dark.  These  names are easy to remember and relate directly to the history and development  of art and colour theory.

What is the difference between Sci\ART® Twelve-Tone™ and other forms of personal colour analysis available in Australia?  

If we felt that there was any advantage to having more than 12 Tones in our colour analysis system then we would offer them to you! 

Sci\ART® Twelve-Tone™ analysis has been developed by a qualified Munsell Colour Technician, no other personal colour analysis currently available in Australia can make this claim.  The Twelve-Tone Analysis System™ has a proven, logical, scientific, and indisputable colour theory behind it. 

Based on the Munsell Colour System, the entire realm of colour has been divided into 12 distinguishable tones.  Just as music has 12 distinguishable tones, so does colour.  3/4 of the population require 'neutral' (warm/cool) mixtures of colours.  If a system does not have any, or a majority of these 'neutral' cataories, then it does not provide the accuracy needed. 

Unlike other forms of analysis there are no colour groupings found between two warm or two cool tones, as these would be indistinguishable from one another, and so useless to us in terms of colour analysis.

The Sci\ART® Twelve-Tone System™ offers 64-70 different colors in each tone because there are 12.  These 12 follow the true movement of the seasonal color changes found in nature (remember all human beings colouring is a part of nature), and are clearly distinguishable as are the 12 tones in music. 

Within each of our Twelve -Tones there are no "cross-over" colours - colours that you will find in two different groups; each of our colour groups is different and distinguishable from the others.  Our 12-Tone system uses over 800 different colours to make up your Personal Book of Colour and Colour Sample Collections. Other systems only use up to 300 colours; including those that offer more than 12 tonal groups.

There is an infinite number of tones or colour groupings possible in the realm of colour, however as human beings, if you cannot physically see the difference between the colours, the extra groupings are of no use to you.   

What is my personal colour or undertone?

Like the rest of our personal characteristics, our personal colour tone is inherited at conception, and is uniquely ours.  It cannot be altered.  We may artificially colour our hair, get a spray tan or alter our eye colour by wearing contact lenses, but this does not change our natural undertone.  Our skin, which is our largest organ is the easiest and most accurate indicator of our colour tone.

Our personal colour tone is determined by our pigmentation. Pigments are colour-forming chemical matter within the human body which combine to give us our unique colour tone.  The colouring of every human being, whether s/he is white, yellow, red, brown or black is determined by a combination of the same three pigments: melanin, carotene and hemoglobin.  Colour differences between different individuals and races are caused only by variations in their concentrations

Personal Colour Analysis works because it allows us to observe the positive and negative optical effects and illusions (this effect is called simultanious contrast), that are created on the skin by adjoining colours.

What is the Munsell colour system?

Albert H. Munsell (1858-1918) is perhaps the most famous name in the field of color. He is known as America’s greatest colourist. Munsell brought clarity to color by establishing an orderly system for accurately identifying every color that exists. The Munsell System is recognized around the globe as the standard for color notation in the worlds of art, business, science, government, and education. It is the universal system for selecting, identifying and controlling color—in short, the universal language of color communication.

What are the advantages of the personal Book of colour over traditional fabric swatches?

Part of the beauty of fabric is the way its color appearance changes with the incidence of light. While it may seem logical to use fabric color "swatches" to look for a matching color in clothing, it is actually very difficult to do. Both the fabric swatch and the fabric clothing fluctuate in color appearance.

Our unique Personal Book of Colour, on the other hand, are color sample on cotton canvas. This allows for the texture of fabric to be colored without the changing color appearance of a dyed fabric swatch.

Unlike fabric samples, the color samples in the Personal Book of Color do not have to be encased in plastic for protection and will never fade!

Ready to use, these high quality samples are completely washable, the colors will not fade with age, and just like any other fine work of art, are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

At True Colour Studio we understand that Men and Women sometimes have different colour needs. Recognizing this we are excited to offer you the choice of either Men's or Women's Personal Books of Colour.

What are the advantages of using the Personal Colour Collection?

These samples are large enough to use in computerized colour matching systems for interior paint colours; and of course, they are great for your wardrobe shopping as well.    The 70-colour collection may be removed from its carrying ring for designing use.   It is just perfect for selecting and creating a multitude of unique colour combinations. 

These colour samples are not just simply commercially printed on cardboard!

They are developed with the same highest grade and archival artists materials used in our personal books of colour.  Each sample is guaranteed light fast (will not fade or discolour), for 100 years! 

Many colour samples today are commercially printed on cardboard. Many high intensity colors just cannot be achieved by this printing method.  The accuracy from printing lot to printing lot would also vary, creating inconsistency in colour samples. 

Why is full spectrum lighting important?

Accurate color rendition is dependent on a full-spectrum light source. Therefore, a full-spectrum light source is necessary for any type of color analysis.

In 1676, Sir Isaac Newton discovered that color is a component of light, not of the object being seen as previously believed. By passing sunlight through a prism, he discovered the full spectrum of color and identified seven distinct hues: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The colors that we see are simply a reflection of a particular portion of the light that strikes an object. The portion of light that is not seen is absorbed into the object to become heat. Without light, color does not exist. A full-spectrum light source is necessary for any type of color analysis.

Natural daylight is a true "white" light, which contains a balance of energy throughout the entire range of the visible spectrum. The value of a light source is determined by how well it renders all colors of the visible spectrum. Artists and colourist prefer the light from a natural moderately overcast north sky. Full-spectrum lighting is the most accurate reproduction of natural sunlight available. John ITT was a pioneer in the field of full-spectrum lighting.  

Accurate color rendition is dependent on a full-spectrum light source.

Will my colours change over time?

Our personal colour tone is as individual as we are, and is determined by our pigmentation; colour forming chemical matter in our bodies, which uniquely combine to give us our under tone.

Hormones can effect this chemical matter, even some medication can alter their concentrations in our bodies.  Contrary to popular advise it is unnecessary to undertake colour analysis mutiple times.  It is however advisable if at any stage you begin to feel uncomfortable in your colours, especially after major life changes such as menopause or illness, that you have a re-check with your personal colourist to make sure that your colours are still suitable at that stage of life. 

Often as we age many individuals feel they no longer suit the 'brighter' colours of their youth.   This is more likely social conditioning, rather than an actual fact.  If an individual feels this way, it is often beneficial to wear the 'neutral colours' for comfort and ease e.g beiges, browns, greys, blacks, navies, whites etc, accented with some of the more colourful hues from ones pallet in the form of scarves, jewellery, acessories etc.

As a human being ages their personal coloring can sometimes 'soften' i.e hair becomes grey and skin generally thins and becomes paler.  This is anatural, and beautiful process.  Sometimes, but not always,  softer versions of their colours will be needed.  Again it is advisable to check with you personal colourist to see if a re-assesment is necessary.