OVERVIEW OF The TCI 12 TONE Method of PERSONAL Color Analysis
As a professional personal color analyst certified by True Colour International, I use the state of the art, advanced, 12-Tone TCI Method of personal color analysis. This system takes into account the science of natural color harmony, accurate interpretation of the Munsell color system, full-spectrum light theory, human physiology and psychology to discover your natural color palette.
Human coloration is as diverse as it is beautiful and unique. Our natural color harmony is determined by pigments found in our skin coupled together with our undertones.
Traditional color analysis popular in the early 1980’s focused on four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. People were categorized as either a cool season: Winter or Summer (blue undertones) OR a warm season: Autumn or Spring (yellow undertones). However, after much research, we now know that most people need neither all warm, nor all cool colors to compliment their natural color harmony. The majority of people need colors somewhere in between.
ENTER THE TCI METHOD
Understanding the organization of color by nature, the TCI Method of personal color analysis includes 8 neutral seasons (cool/neutral and warm/neutral). These new tones are found in between the original 4 seasons. All together, the TCI 12 Tones (color palettes) encompass the full range of colors found in all human beings.
To visit the True Color International website, click here.
3 DIMENSIONS OF COLOR, MUNSELL AND THE TCI 12 TONES
These new tones represent 12 distinct areas of color space and are distinguished from one another based on Albert Munsell’s three dimensions of color - hue, value and chroma. Munsell’s color system is a model used for identifying every existing color in the spectrum and still the most commonly used system of color notation in the world. In addition to artists, professionals from dentists, to archeologists to brewmasters use Munsell’s color system in their work. Using Munsell’s scientific approach in your TCI color analysis ensures you will receive an accurate result with colors that harmonize with your natural tone.
Photographs, monitors, phones and different levels of lighting all change how color appears. An in-person color analysis using TCI calibrated drapes will reveal how your personal undertones react to specific colors and help determine which hue, value, and chroma are best for you. This is the key to reveal which of the 12 Tones is your palette!
HUE (Temperature):
Do you need warm (yellow undertones), cool (blue undertones), warm neutral (yellow with blue undertones) or cool-neutral (blue with yellow undertones) colors?
VALUE:
Are light, dark or colors in between best for you?
Chroma (SATURATION):
Are colors with brightness and saturation better or do you need colors that are more soft and muted?
Learn more about Munsell Color Theory here.
