Systems
12 vs 16 season color analysis
The 12-season system splits each of the four families into three seasons by their strongest trait (light, deep, bright, soft, warm or cool). The 16-season system adds four more in-between types so borders are finer. Both use the same logic; 12 seasons are the most common default and are what DoColorAnalysis uses, with a runner-up season to cover in-between cases.
Updated
From 4 to 12 to 16 seasons
The original 4-season system sorted people by temperature and depth only. It worked for clear cases and failed for people who are, for example, soft and cool. The 12-season system fixed that by naming each season after its dominant trait, so Soft Summer and True Summer get different palettes. The 16-season variants go further by adding extra soft, bright or neutral types between neighbouring seasons.
The 12 seasons
See each palette on the 12 color seasons page.
| Family | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light Spring, True Spring, Bright Spring |
| Summer | Light Summer, True Summer, Soft Summer |
| Autumn | Soft Autumn, True Autumn, Deep Autumn |
| Winter | Deep Winter, True Winter, Bright Winter |
Which color analysis system should you use?
A runner-up season gives you most of what a 16-season system adds: if your report says Soft Summer with Soft Autumn close, you know to favor the colors they share.
- 4 seasons: fine as a quick start, too coarse for soft or neutral people.
- 12 seasons: precise enough for clothes, makeup and hair, and the one most guides use.
- 16 seasons: useful if you sit exactly between two seasons and want a palette made for that spot.
How each system names your color season
In the 4-season color analysis you are simply a Summer or an Autumn. In the 12-season color analysis the name adds your strongest trait: a Soft Summer is soft first, a True Summer cool first, a Light Summer light first. In 16-season color analysis you might be a Soft Summer leaning neutral or a Soft Autumn leaning cool. Whatever the system, your color palette follows the same three color traits: undertone, value and chroma.
If you were typed in another system, translate it with the table on our 12 color seasons page and compare the palettes side by side in a mirror.
Which color analysis system do apps and analysts use?
Most online color analysis quizzes and apps use either 4 or 12 seasons; many in-person analysts trained in seasonal color analysis use 12 or a 16-season variant. Some brands have their own names for the same seasons. When you compare results, look at the color palette, not the name.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is the 16-season system more accurate?
It is finer, not necessarily more accurate. More categories mean more borders to get wrong; the logic is the same.
Do different systems use different names?
Yes. True Spring is also Warm Spring, Bright Spring is Clear Spring, Deep Autumn is Dark Autumn, and so on.
Which system does the free test use?
The 12-season system, with a runner-up season.
Find your colors today
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