our commitment to you
True Colour is committed to offering you the most advanced and accurate research and development in the field of personal Colour Communication. One of our objectives is to educate and set the standard for accuracy across Australia and New Zealand in the areas of personal colour communication, analysis, colour education, training, tools and products.
We believe that educated consumers make the best choices!
We hope that you have found answers to your important questions within the True Colour website. Below are some frequently asked questions where you may find further information.
We sincerely welcome your questions. Please feel to contact us by phone or email. We look forward to assisting you. |
What is the difference between the certified Sci\ART™ Twelve-Tone Personal Colour System® and other personal colour systems currently available in Australia?
The Sci\ART ™Twelve Tone Personal Colour Communication System® has been developed and tested by a certified professional in the field of colour - Master Munsell Colourist Kathryn Kalsiz.
NO other personal colour system available in Australia can make this claim. The Certified Sci\ART™ Twelve-Tone System®, Tools, Products and Training have a proven, logical, scientific, and indisputable colour theory education and experience behind it.
ACCURACY is the key word when referring to Sci\ART™
Correct interpretation of Colour Theory, Munsell Colour System, and the science behind human vision by a Certified Master Munsell Colourist, has resulted in 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' categories, then it does not provide the accuracy needed.
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 the twelve-Tones® there are NO "cross-over" or "flow colours" - colours that you will find in two different groups: each of our colour groups is different and distinguishable from the others. The Sci\ART™ Twelve-Tone System® is the first in Australia to select from over 800 different colours to make up your Sci\ART™ Personal Book of Colour® and Sci\ART™ Personal Colour Sample Collection®.
There is an infinite number of tones or colour groupings possible in the realm of colour. A total of 12 covers the full range of tonal changes found in nature, which are visible to the human eye.
If you cannot see the difference between the colours, extra tonal groupings are of no use. Similarly if tonal groups are added randomly then the system is inaccurate as it does not follow movement of colour as found in Nature.
"The (Sci\ART™ Twelve Tone System®) was able to systematically narrow down my colour options to the perfect palette. Having been previously analysed using a number of different systems, I was confused and didn’t want to invest any more money in clothing that didn’t feel “right”. I am confused no more! My Sci\ART™ Colour Pallet makes so much sense. I LOVE my colours, and delight in them every day! “
Maryjane M
Melbourne
September 2009
What is the difference between Seasonal and Professional Sci/ART® 12 - Tone™ Analysis? 
The Seasonal Colour 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 colours 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 colour with a yellow content is considered a warm red. A red colour 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 fitted into this system, and consequently felt uncomfortable with many of their colours.
Courtesy of Sci\ART Global
 Understanding this, we are pleased to offer 12 Tone Personal Colour Analysis, a seasonal analysis that has been refined and expanded to include twelve categories instead of four. These 12 categories encompass the full realm of colour (Hue/Value/Chroma)
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 Certified Sci\ART 12 Tones of personal colour are: 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 (the Impressionists) and colour theory.
What are the advantages of the Certified Sci\ART Personal Book of Colour and Sci\ART Personal Colour Collection over traditional fabric and commercially printed and laminated 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! Plastic covers, and the most modern form of lamination, change the appearance of colour and render the sample inaccurate for colour matching.
Ready to use, these high quality samples are completely flexible and unlike commercially printed/coated cardboard or fabric sampels, Each sample is guaranteed light fast (will not fade or discolour), for 100 years!
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 multiple 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 beige's, browns, Grey's, blacks, navies, whites etc, accented with some of the more colourful hues from ones pallet in the form of scarves, jewelery, accessories 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 a natural, 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-assessment is necessary.
What is the Munsell Colour System
Albert H. Munsell (1858-1918)
At the beginning of the 20th century, professor Albert H munsell brought clarity to colour communication by establishing an orderly system for accurately identifying every colour that exists. Munsell based his system on what he defined as 'perceived eqquidistance", the human visual system's perception of colour.
Munsell desired to create a "rational way to describe colour" that would use clear decimal notation instead of a lot of color names that he considered "foolish" and "misleading." His system, which he began in 1898 with the creation of his colour sphere, or tree, saw its full expression with his publication, A Color Notation, in 1905. This work has been reprinted several times and is still a standard for colorimetry (the measuring of color).
Munsell modeled his system as an orb around whose equator runs a band of colors. The axis of the orb is a scale of neutral gray values with white as the north pole and black as the south pole. Extending horizontally from the axis at each gray value is a gradation of color progressing from neutral gray to full saturation. With these three defining aspects, any of thousands of colors could be fully described. Munsell named these aspects, or qualities, Hue, Value, and Chroma.
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.
The Certified Sci\ART Twelve Tone System was developed and tested by Master Munsell Colourist Kathryn Lee Kalisz.
What is the difference between the Munsell Colour System and Pantone Colour products?
 Many people mistake the Munsell Colour Communication System and the Pantone Colour Company as having the same function.
The Munsell Colour System accurately defines every single colourthat exists according to the three dimensions - hue/value/chroma. The Munsell Colour System is a complete communication system between industries worldwide.
Pantone does not define colour according to the three dimensions, and does not include every colour that exists. Pantone originally produced (ink) colour charts for the graphics and printing industry.
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