{
  "id": 16782469,
  "title": "Seasonal color analysis as a color-science problem (undertone, value, chroma, contrast)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/seasonal-color-analysis-as-a-color-science-problem-undertone-value",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-27T19:10:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/john_rapvideo_6c6c6849058/seasonal-color-analysis-as-a-color-science-problem-undertone-value-chroma-contrast-2nlh"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seasonal color analysis simplifies the process of determining a person's coloring into four key variables: undertone, value, chroma, and contrast. These properties are derived from analyzing the hues, lightness, saturation, and lightness differences between a person's hair, skin, and eyes. The analysis categorizes individuals into one of the four seasons based on their unique combination of these characteristics.\n\nUndertone refers to the direction of the skin's hue, which can be warm (yellow/golden), cool (pink/blue), or neutral. Value represents the overall lightness or darkness of the coloring. Chroma assesses the saturation and clarity of the hair, skin, and eye colors. Contrast measures the lightness difference between these features.\n\nTo simplify this color-science problem for developers, the team behind DoColorAnalysis, a free online color analysis tool, uses the CIELAB color space. Unlike RGB values, which combine lightness and color, CIELAB separates them into L* (lightness), C* (chroma), and h (hue angle). L* maps to value, C* maps to chroma, and the hue angle and sign of b* indicate undertone.\n\nThe primary challenge in implementing seasonal color analysis lies in obtaining high-quality photos. Factors such as lighting, filters, and makeup can significantly impact the results. To obtain accurate color analysis, it's recommended to take a front-facing selfie in natural daylight from a window, without any filters or extensive makeup. Additionally, white-balancing the image against a neutral object in the frame can improve the accuracy of the analysis.\n\nFor those curious about their seasonal coloring, the free 12-question color analysis test on docoloranalysis.com provides a convenient self-assessment. The test asks about factors such as veins, tanning, gold vs. silver, and natural hair and eye colors. It then generates a likely season and a runner-up, based on the input. The test runs entirely in the browser and does not require any photos or account creation.",
  "summary": "Seasonal color analysis is usually explained with fabric drapes and words like \"warm\" and \"soft\". If you're a developer, it's easier to think about it as a small color-science problem. Disclosure up front: I'm part of the team that built DoColorAnalysis, a free online color analysis tool, so this is the mental model we found useful, not a sales pitch. The four variables Most 12-season systems…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seasonal color analysis uses four variables: undertone, value, chroma, and contrast",
    "Undertone identifies skin hue direction: warm, cool, or neutral",
    "CIELAB color space simplifies color-science problem for developers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}